Date of death: 10/16/2026
Saint Meinrad Class: C 1982
Reverend David George Nowak, age 72 of Portage, Indiana, a priest of the Diocese of Gary, died on October 16, 2026. He was born in Elkhart, Indiana, the son of Eugene H. Nowak and Judith Ann Tyuty Nowak.
Father Nowak was ordained to the priesthood on May 4, 1985, at St. Thomas More in Munster. From 1985-1990, he served at St. Catherine of Siena in Hammond, St. Bridget in Hobart, chaplain at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, and chaplain at St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond.
In 1996, Father Nowak was appointed pastor of St. Stephen, Martyr in Merrillville, while also serving as chaplain at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville. From 2000 to 2019, his priestly ministry included assignments at St. Paul in Valparaiso; St. Thomas More in Munster; St. Bridget in Hobart; St. Mary in Griffith; St. Ann in Gary; St. Patrick in East Chicago; and other pastoral responsibilities within the North Lake Deanery and Marriage Tribunal. He was granted senior priest status in 2019.
In his leisure time, Father Nowak enjoyed gardening, playing the organ, and reading.
Father Nowak was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Judith Nowak; and sister, Kathy Lynn Nowak.
Father Nowak was a loving brother to Gregory (Therese) Nowak and Lorrie (Tom) Geer; proud uncle to Dr. Lindsay Nowak, Michelle and Nicole Nowak, Emily (Matthew) Hink, Noah Geer, Rylee Geer; and dear great uncle to Rosie and Matthew, Jr. Hink; other loving family also surviving.
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