Photo courtesy of Tempe Mortuary - Tempe
Mar 29, 1960 - Dec 5, 2025
Sending Our Love & Prayers to All. It’s still hard to believe Rick is gone, Rick was a Loving & caring person.Wish We could have been their today. He will be Missed. Love Paul & Angie
Paul & Angie Sevald
December 30, 2025 | South Milwaukee, WI | Family
The wilderness he loved will miss Rick as much as his family, friends, and coworkers. A privilege to work with him. My heart goes out to his family.
Paula Sharzer
December 30, 2025 | Phoenix, AZ | Coworker
Such a great guy. Loved visits when we went to Az in winter . Such a super family. Love and hugs. Jim and Jean. Is the service u tubed from the funeral home. Since we can’t be there
Jim Paulson
December 29, 2025 | Belgrade, MN | Family
Such sad news ,so sorry for this loss. All Rick's friends and family know what a fantastic person he was. RIP brother
bill Pongratz
December 29, 2025 | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | Friend
It was a pleasure working along side Rick for 25 years or better and getting to know him quite well he’s been nothing but great an employee any company wish they had..miss you Rick RIP my friend.
Alfred Bajalis
December 24, 2025 | Phoenix, AZ | Friend
Work will go on—but it won’t be the same.
Thank you for bringing the joy.
Enjoy your walkabout.
Todd and Jenn Nordine
December 24, 2025 | Prescott, AZ | Coworker
Love you brother. See you on the other side.
Myra Hayes
December 24, 2025 | Tucson, AZ | Family
I am so sorry to hear about Rick, we used to work Dash-8 planes at AWA back in the early '90's together when no one else wanted to. I moved on to a different airline and saw him one day last year "walking" the terminal at PHX SkyHarbor. We talked as if it was yesterday and he was as jovial as always. He was a very cool, down to earth guy and always had those lamb chops groomed just right. RIP Rick. Condolences to the family.
Vince Braley
December 23, 2025 | Mesa, AZ | Coworker
Richard Allen Nowatzki
March 29,1960 - December 5, 2025
Rick Nowatzki has gone on Walkabout. This time, it’s a solitary adventure.
Rick will be remembered for his loyalty, generosity, dry sense of humor, and an extremely cool mustache. He loved the outdoors; hiking with family and friends to some of the most dizzying heights and mosquito filled valleys. Mere weeks ago, he was planning an Alaskan cruise with family to celebrate his retirement from American Airlines after nearly 40 years of steadfast service. He spoke to a niece about his Bucket List of Trails, cooked delicious meals with his beloved brothers, planned for the Annual Brothers’ Golfing Extravaganza, listened patiently to a grand-nephew’s slightly pitchy version of “Country Roads”, puzzled with sisters, and prepared to host his mom for her annual trip south.
Rick showed his love for you by being there when you needed him: to move your irises, trim your peach tree, roof or paint your house, take you on a trip. His presence was felt in smaller moments too. He sent flowers to all the moms in his family on Mother’s Day, roses for birthdays, and shared the excellent Costco deals he would find. You could count on him to keep you supplied with lens cleaning cloths, cooling neck scarves, and an ever present dab of CarmexTM. He ruined surprise visits with his love of stalking family on IPhone’s Find a Friend. “What are you doing in ____?”
Desperately missing Rick are his mother Joyce, sisters Deborah and Lisa, brothers Steve, Chris and Scott, the Nowatzki Outlaws, his fabulous nieces and nephews, his cousin (dear and constant friend) Melodee and numerous other cousins, aunts and uncles.
His father Donald preceded him in death-and likely greeted him on the first tee box with a nubby rap on the head and two fingers of top shelf brandy.
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