Joseph Richard Nowacki passed away on December 10, 2025 at the age of 94 at the home he shared with his wife of 68 years, Sandy. He was surrounded by his family. Dick, as he was known, or Grandad was a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.
He was born June 22, 1931 to Joseph Andrew Nowacki and Julia Nowacki nee Longoski in Detroit, Michigan. He later moved to Wheeling, West Virginia. Dick graduated Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, with a degree in economics. He then served in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1956, serving principally at Weeksville, N.C. as a helicopter sonar operator. Following his discharge, he returned to Wheeling, where he met the love of his life, Sandra Y. Nowacki nee Merritt. They met in 1957 and following a whirlwind romance, married on October 26, 1957. Together they have four children, Diann, Rick, Tom and Debbie.
Dick started working for Edison Brothers Stores as a field auditor and the family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1966 he was transferred to the home office in St. Louis, where the family remained and their children grew up. Dick and Sandy were a fun-loving couple with lots of family activities. Sports, games, puzzles were a part of family life. Dick was known for his breakfast skills – treating kids, grandkids and great grandkids to his famous thin pancakes and French toast! The family often vacationed in Ohio with extended family and the kids learned about small town life, where Sandy grew up.
After Dick retired from Edison Brothers in 1986, he worked part time for the IRS and at a local golf course. Dick was an avid and excellent golfer and Sandy an antique collector. Dick was a golfer well into his 80s, regularly playing with much younger golfers. As the children grew up and left home, Dick and Sandy traveled extensively in the U.S. where Dick golfed and they both enjoyed scouring the antique shops. Dick also traveled with some of his grandchildren as a high school graduation gift. On one of those trips, Sandy visited a local St. Louis winery. Since then, Dick and Sandy have been regulars on sunny afternoons at the winery where they made many new friends.
Dick is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sandra Y. Nowacki and his four children, Diann (and Jim) Gross, Rick (and Kelly) Nowacki, Tom (and Karla) Nowacki and Debra Nowacki, as well as his eight grandchildren Steven (and Vicki Montague) Gross of Denver, Joe (and Mellisa Burgess) Nowacki of St. Louis, T.J. (and Megan) Gross of St. Louis, Jacob Nowacki of St. Louis, Eric (and Tyler Hynes) Nowacki of St. Charles, Ian (and Lydia) Nowacki of St. Louis, Adam (and Teresa) Nowacki of St. Louis and Erin Nowacki of Las Vegas, and his four great-grandchildren Liam Nowacki, Olive Gross, Isla Gross and Cade Nowacki.
A military honors ceremony will be held at a later date at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the American Heart Association will be greatly appreciated.