Henry Nauka

Henry (Hank) Nauka, 99, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026.

He was born on January 7, 1927, to Louis and Mary Nauka in Detroit, Michigan, and raised on his family's dairy farm in Decker, Michigan. As a young boy, he attended Moshier School, a rural one-room schoolhouse.

At age 18, Hank proudly entered the United States Marine Corps. He served aboard the USS Oriskany with Squadron VMF-122, one of the first Marine aviation units to serve on a U.S. Naval carrier. Hank traveled extensively during his military service, touching many European ports.

After returning home, Hank began his civilian career as a mechanic with the Detroit Street Railway, where he worked from 1954 to 1964. Committed to advancing his education, he earned his bachelor's degree from the Detroit Institute of Technology in 1961. Never one to shy away from hard work; Hank later attended Indiana Northern University, commuting on weekends, to earn his master's degree in business.

In 1953, Hank married the love of his life, Elizabeth Gordon, whom he met through a chance meeting with her brother. Together they shared 72 years of marriage, building a life rooted in love, partnership, and family.

Hank spent many years working in payroll at Chrysler before retiring in 1989. He and Elizabeth made their home in Commerce Township for over 60 years, where they cherished life on Flanders Lake and later on Carroll Lake. Hank was a member of the North Oakland Marine Corps League. He enjoyed boating and delighted in taking his nieces and nephews tubing and enjoying a variety of water sports. An avid golfer, Hank continued his passion after retirement by working as a ranger at Bogie Lake Golf Club. He loved watching the game of baseball and participated in a bowling league fondly named the "Nauka's Niners." Hank also enjoyed deer hunting with his nephews up in the thumb of Michigan.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; Elizabeth's sister, Violet Wills, and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his siblings, John, Eugene (Eleanor), Louis (Iva), and Edward, and Elizabeth's siblings, William Gordon (Sheila), Jane Baxter (Ronald), and brother-in-law, Lee Wills.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 24, 10AM, until the Funeral Service, 11AM, at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Rd., Troy.