Michael A. (Mike) Nowak, 76, of Dickinson, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2024, with his wife Patricia and his children by his side.

Mike was born on August 28, 1947, in Buffalo, New York, to Alfred and Florence Nowak of Amherst, New York.  During his rewarding life, Mike was blessed with two cherished daughters, Melanie and Barbara.  Through his marriage to Patricia Mancuso, his blended family grew with the addition of a loving son, Bryan McGowan.  Mike was extremely proud of all of his children and felt his life was greatly enriched when his daughter Melanie presented him with a beautiful granddaughter, Addison Moreton, with whom he enjoyed many special times.

Mike’s marriage to Patricia added a second “Mancuso” family to his life with the patriarch Joseph S. Mancuso and matriarch Ethel Mancuso, several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

Mike had a long and distinguished career with Praxair, Inc. (formerly Union Carbide Corp., Linde Division) that began in 1967 at the Union Carbide, Linde Division, Tonawanda NY, factory and engineering facilities where he held engineering positions of increasing responsibility.  In 1981, he transferred into operations at the Niagara Falls hydrogen plant.  In 1985, he relocated to New Jersey to manage a new production facility in Salem County and in 1990 was assigned to Texas City, Texas, to manage another new facility.  Mike then remained in the Houston area where he advanced to Operations Manager.  During his employment with Praxair (Linde), in addition to facilities in the United States, Mike participated in the design and operations of facilities in Mexico, Spain, Germany, France, Taiwan, Italy and Canada.

Mike attended the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNYAB) while employed with Linde and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.  In 1976 he was inducted into the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.

Mike proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, enlisting in 1968, and assigned to the I Corps region of Viet Nam with the 1^st Marine Division.  He returned to civilian employment at Linde in 1970.

Mike retired from Praxair in 2005.  In addition to enjoying leisure time boating, fishing and traveling, he also remained in the industry as a Consultant working with his brother-in-law Gene Miller at Divicom in Texas City.

Predeceased by his parents and Patricia’s parents, Mike is survived by his loving wife Patricia Mancuso Nowak, his brother, Gary W. Nowak (Nampa, Idaho), his sisters, Gail Nowak O’Brien Evans and husband John (Lockport, New York), and Michele Nowak Lorenz and husband Jim (Cheekktowaga, New York).  He also leaves behind his children Melanie Nowak Callahan and husband Chad (Conroe, Texas), Barbara Nowark Erskine and husband Michael, (League City, Texas), Bryan McGowan and partner Whitney Ables (League City), granddaughter Addison Moreton (Conroe), the mother of his daughters, Carol Mentz Nowak (Friendswood, Texas), nephews Gerald O’Brien, Jason O’Brien, Justin Nowak and numerous other family members who will cherish his memory.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024, at Crowder Funeral Home, 111 East Medical Center Blvd., Webster, Texas, with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church, 300 Pine Drive (FM 517), Dickinson, Texas.  The Rite of Committal will follow at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 7801 Gulf Freeway, Dickinson, Texas.   Serving as pallbearers will be Bryan McGowan, Michael Erskine, Chad Callahan, Coy Sloan, and members of the Galveston County Marine Corps League Detachment 668.

For those who wish, and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Tunnels to Towers Houston, American Heart Association, or a charity of your choice.