Wallace D Nard Jr.

Wallace D. Nard Jr., 90, of Wheaton, IL, passed away of a brain tumor on Monday, December 29, 2025. He was born on March 1, 1935, in Norton, VA, to Wallace D. Nard, Sr. and Georgia Florence (née Pevey).

Wallace grew up in Norton, VA, and attended Norton High School where he was a member of the district champion football team. After high school Wallace moved to Chicago, IL, and continued his education at the Chicago Academy of Art studying to be a commercial artist. Wallace was considered a "visionary" in the field of flexographic printing.

Wallace began his career by securing patents for the cushion plate he invented which revolutionized the flexo printing industry. For decades Wallace served his field as chairman and speaker at countless national and international workshops and forums. Recognized, as an educator in "flexo" Wallace taught at various technical colleges and wrote numerous articles for trade journals. He also served as a contributing editor to the FFTA's flexography textbook, Flexography: Principles and Practices that since its release decades ago is in its sixth edition. He was the youngest person ever to be inducted into the industry's Hall of Fame. In 1985, at the age of 50, Wallace began his own company Novaflex Inc that represented various European manufacturers of flexographic printing presses and 15 years ago he began KYMC America representing a flexographic printing press manufacturer in Taiwan

It was in Chicago where Wallace met Josette (née Weddingfeld), They were married in 1966 in Nebraska where Josette was born and raised. Wallace and Josette began their married life in Chicago. The impetus for moving to the suburbs was following their faith and helping to build Oak Brook Christian Center where Wallace taught Sunday school and was a deacon. They have lived in Wheaton, IL for 45 years.

Wallace was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed going to the games with family whether it was in the freezing cold or sweltering heat. He certainly was not a "fair weather" fan. Wallace also loved fly-fishing for trout and salmon on his trips on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. His fascination with the Civil War is evidenced by the tomes on his bookshelves and include his many trips to the famed battlefields.

Wallace and Josette enjoyed the Chicago theatre scene and were patrons of Steppenwolf for 35 years. Because of the nature of Wallace's work, together they traveled Europe and the British Isles studying the Old Masters in countless museums, appreciating the architecture of the chateaus and cathedrals, while taking in each country's cuisine and countryside; One of Josette's favorite memories is of their just having left the graves of Vincent and Theo Van Gogh in the later afternoon near Arles, France in a non air conditioned rental and Wallace's impatient Italian mutterings as they followed an elderly man on a bicycle with a loaf of fresh smelling bread as long as the width of the narrow road while Josette was reading French history aloud. Blessedly, the old man finally turned left. Wally also took great pride in his new fandom for the Illini where his grandson is finishing his senior year.

Wallace leaves behind; his wife of 59 years, Josette; his children Joshua (Carla) Nard of Chicago, IL, Gregory (Dee) Nard of Concord, NC, Suzanne (Jeffrey) Patterson of Lexington, NC; grandchildren Cayetano Nard, Jessica Patterson, Jonathan (Stacy) Shives, Crystal Fisher, and two great grandchildren. Wallace also leaves behind his sister-in-law Theora Noble of Conroe, TX and his niece Michaela Noble of Washington DC; his nephews David (Cherry) Duckworth and Wallace Nard (Donna) Gibson and his niece DeAnna (Eric) Stevens.

Wallace was preceded in death by his daughter, Pamela Nard (who died of leukemia at age 7), his daughter Tamara Shives of Raleigh NC, his parents Wallace Sr. and Georgia Florence Nard, as well as his first wife Patsy Bradley Everhart and sisters Dorothy Duckworth and Nancy Anderson. Wallace was also predeceased by his favorite dinner companion, his little Shih Tzu, Bear.

No services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life, which will be zoomed, is planned for March 1st, Wallace's birthday.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Wallace's memory to The Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/, or the ASPCA, https://www.ASPCA.org/, two causes dear to his heart.