Marcey L. Nowak

Marcey L. Nowak, 68, of Wausau, WI passed away peacefully on Friday, November 21, 2025, after fighting a courageous battle of cancer and dementia at her home, while under the care of Aspirus at Home Hospice.

Marcey was born in Wausau, WI on April 30, 1957, to the late Robert and Marsha (Mohr) Nitzsche.

While attending Wausau East High School, she became a member of the Wausau Story Drum and Bugle Corp where she became a rifle sergeant. She took great pride in being a member and traveling throughout the United States to perform. Also, at Wausau East High School is where she met her soulmate and the love of her life.

On October 28, 1979, she married Lyle A. Nowak at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. He survives.

Marcey and Lyle took over the family dairy farm and worked together for years. Later in life, Marcey went to work outside of farming and became the first woman beer saleswoman for Miller Brewing Company in the Wausau area. She worked all her life in the beer industry and enjoyed her job very much, up to the time she retired.

Marcey and Lyle always lived life to the fullest and always in the fast lane. Marcey was a huge part of Lyle’s success in racing for over 40 years. She enjoyed being the manager and marketing of Lyle’s racing, but most importantly she was his spotter and the voice he listened to while on the track. During their racing career, Marcey also was the founder of the WCAR (Woman’s Concern for Auto Racing). They traveled to many race track across the US and met some amazing people that they are still friends with to this day.

Marcey had a deep love for animals, and it showed when you went to her house. They always had German Shepherds in their lives that brought great joy and were considered their children. Currently her three dogs are Race, Pupper and Ringo Star. She also loved horses and this last year she purchased a Buck-Skin named Harley.

She loved living out in the country and about 10 years ago, after their racing career came to an end, they dabbled back into farming and started growing their own pumpkins. Marcey was always the visionary, while Lyle did the research. They never imagined they would be driving their racing motorhome and race hauler to pick up mums from their Amish families. Later, they expanded into selling hanging baskets.

Marcey would always say “we have become a destination for people to come for their spring and fall flowers.” Every year she looked forward to returning customers and new customers.

Some of her other hobbies included, listening to the Beatles, gardening in her yard and traveling South to see all the Civil War history and plantations. The trips were never complete unless a stop was made at a Cracker Barrell along the way. Marcey will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her husband, Lyle A. Nowak, Wausau, her three dogs, Race, Pupper and Ringo Star, her siblings, John (Mary Jo) Nitzsche, Randy (Candice) Nitzsche and Torey (Kevin) Nitzsche-Teske, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and again on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. All events will be held at the Sixth Street funeral home location. In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a memorial fund in her honor.

Family and friends are encouraged to visit www.petersonkraemer.com to leave words of remembrance and online condolences.

The family would like to thank Dr. Haque and the entire team at Aspirus Cancer Center and Aspirus at Home Care for their outstanding care Marcey received during her cancer journey. She was always treated with grace, dignity and received the upmost care until the very end. You are truly angels on earth.