Obituaries & Guestbook

Judie Gowaski, 83, Howard, formerly of Stiles, died peacefully Saturday morning, February 20, 2021 at home surrounded by family following a 3-year illness with multiple myeloma. She was born March 8, 1937 in Marinette to Floyd and Nina Cummings. Judie grew up in Marinette and graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes High School with the class of 1955.

On May 4, 1957 she married Jack Gowaski at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marinette. Following their marriage the couple lived in Marinette where Judie worked as a secretary for the local city manager. The couple eventually moved to Green Bay where Judie worked as an executive secretary for the James River Engineering Offices in both Green Bay and Neenah until retiring in 1999 after receiving many awards as “Employee of the Year.” Jack and Judie moved to their cottage/home near Stiles fulltime in 1993 where they were active members in St. Patrick Parish. While attending St. Patrick’s, Judie was always involved in the annual picnic and card parties as well as serving as a lector and funeral dinner chair for many years. She also took lead roles in the Machickanee Advance Association (MMA) where she served as President for 12 years and secretary and Vice President for 4 years each. Judie lived her mantra…”We don’t ‘own’ our property. We are rather stewards, who are cautioned to preserve, conserve, and restore this beautiful area before we pass it to the next generation.” Judie will be lovingly remembered as a devoted wife, mother, sister, grandma and friend who always seemed to bring the best out in other people. Her beautiful smile will be missed by all.

Survivors are her husband of 64 years, Jack Gowaski, Howard; two daughters, Maureen (Jack) Turner, McHenry, IL; Melissa (Jeff) Petermann, Green Bay; nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren, one brother, Jim Cummings, Towson, MD; one sister, Mary Rahmel (Mike) Graziano, West Dundee, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, twin sons, Ricky and Randy Dain, sister-in-law, Gretchen Cummings and brother-in-law, Duke Rahmel.

Visitation with the urn present will take place at 9:00 am Saturday, February 27, 2021 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls (please note change of venue from St. Patrick so funeral mass can be live streamed) until the time of service. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at the church with the Rev. Fr. Greg Parent officiating. Burial will eventually take place in St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Stiles.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at Unity Hospice for the care and compassion they showed to our mom as well as to our family.