Charles A. Nowak

Charles “Charlie” Arlin Nowak, 66, of Waco, went to be with Our Lord in Heaven on Sunday, January 16, 2022. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 11:00 am at Oakcrest Funeral Home, with visitation held prior to the memorial service at 10:00 am. A masonic burial will follow at Rosemound Cemetery.

Charlie was born December 28, 1955 to parents Arlin and Barbara Nowak in Bryan, Texas. After graduating from Bryan High School he attended Texas State Technical Institute in Waco where he became a machinist/mechanic. While in Waco, Charlie was proud to receive his pilot’s license to fly helicopters and airplanes. Charlie met his beloved wife, Jessica Ann Chard at a chicken show in Waco and they were married January 5, 1980, continuing their love for chickens and turkeys throughout their marriage.

As a young man, Charlie loved being outside in nature. He especially enjoyed hunting and fishing. In high school he was a junior police officer where his interest in firearms started to grow. He began his collection of guns and started participating in shooting competitions when he was older. He loved taking his family and friends to the range to help them with their shooting skills. His interest in mechanics and engineering grew as well and as a young man he built an airplane and a boat in his backyard. The boat sank within a few minutes and luckily he never got to try the plane!

Charlie was involved in a lot of hobbies and organizations as he got older. He was
raised as a master mason for George N Denton Lodge #24, a part of the Karem shrine and
Karem shrine clown unit. He was very active in the clown unit, fondly known as “Six Bits”. He attended the Karem Shrine Circuses every year, attended many parades, visited the Shriners Hospital to make balloons for the children, and was even involved in a clown competition. Charlie was a part of the McGreggor Eastern Star and even the Hillbilly clan while growing in his masonic journey. He loved all of his masonic and shriner friends.

Other hobbies that he enjoyed included harvesting honey from beehives in his own backyard, metal detecting, geocaching, woodworking, and fishing. He was a giant of a man yet still enjoyed making fairy gardens with his wife, daughter, and his granddaughter, Krystal, who was his pride and joy. Charlie also liked to go to first Mondays at the Canton flea market and get lots of chickens, turkeys, and bob white quail. He loved his animals.

Charlie was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, father, and Paw Paw. He always had a large smile on his face and a big, booming, contagious laugh. He will be dearly missed by his daughter and son in law, Kim and Albert Hittle of Waco; granddaughter, Krystal Hittle of Waco; grandson, Kevin W. Hittle of Waco; sister, Kathy Nowak Anderson (Jerry) of College Station; and sister in law, Susan Nowak of McKinney; nephews, Jacob and Jason Anderson; and a niece, Karli Bumbaugh.

Charlie is preceded in death by his grandparents, Aubrey and Alma Holden; parents, Arlin and Barbara Nowak; brother, Keith Nowak; and his dear wife, Jessica Nowak.

Charlie will be greatly missed by his family and friends but leaves behind many wonderful, cherished memories for each of us.