Joan C. Nowak

1945 - 2023

Milwaukee, WI - Joan C. Nowak, 78, of Milwaukee, formerly of Watertown, passed away on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at AccentCare Inpatient Center in Wauwatosa.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Hafemeister Funeral Home in Watertown with Pastor Dean Noonan of Faith Baptist Church in Oak Creek officiating. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Moravian Cemetery in Watertown. Family and friends may gather at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials, if desired, would be appreciated to the Salvation Army. Hafemeister Funeral Home and Cremation Service is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.

Joan Carol Nowak (a.k.a. Joanie-Baloney) was born on February 23, 1945 in Watertown to Raymond and Arvada (Jeche) Tessmann. She graduated from Bob Jones University and later received her Masters plus 30 degree. She was also a Fulbright scholar, which embarked her on her first trip of many to Germany. After that, Joan began her German teaching career for a short time in Racine and then for 33 years at Oak Creek High School. On July 23, 1993 she married David C. Nowak, the love of her life. They were married at Graceland Wedding Chapel by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas. They gracefully went through their mid-life crises together by purchasing a Harley and each getting tattoos!

Joan loved her grandchildren (Little Man, and Layla) tremendously and spoiled them at every chance! She had a great sense of humor and had many 'Joan-isims' such as 'it be what it be', 'oh baby, oh baby', 'Colorado barking spider', and 'how nice'. She saw the good in everyone and was such a giving person. Joan liked music, playing the violin, and singing. She enjoyed traveling and took hundreds of students to Germany, without ever losing anyone! She loved living in Arizona and going down to Nogales, Mexico, just across the border. She took her last vacation in December on a family trip to Negril, Jamaica. Joan loved the Lord, church, and life. Her faith in Jesus and hope in the promise of heaven, kept her going, especially in her tough times with Dementia. She truly was a one-of-a-kind person and will be deeply missed by all that knew her.

Joan is survived by her two children: Nathan Paul Carlson, Amy (Brandon) Leitheiser; two grandchildren: Layla & Everett Leitheiser; siblings: Nancy (Ronald "Loop") Spiegelhoff of Oconomowoc, Richard "Dick" Tessmann of Sterling, IL, Dave (Joanne) Tessmann of Travelers Rest, SC; as well as other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband David on February 10, 2019.