Eugene Francis Nowak

Eugene Francis Nowak, age 88, of Brenham passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 2, 2014. Visitation with the family will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2014, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 7 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brenham. Burial will follow in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Brenham.

Eugene was born on December 2, 1926, to Leon John Nowak Sr. and Mary Josephine Wymola Nowak. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Brenham and graduated from Brenham High School in 1944. He volunteered to serve in the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program and was sent to Oklahoma A&M University in Stillwater, Oklahoma for six months. At 18 years old, he was transferred to Camp Hood, Texas and was trained as a rifleman in the Infantry. During his last weeks of training at Camp Hood, he had spinal meningitis and was in the hospital for nearly four months. When released from the hospital, he refused a medical discharge and wanted to return to his training unit, but they had already been sent overseas as infantry replacement against the Germans in WWII. Instead, he remained in Camp Hood working in the headquarters unit until the war ended. He volunteered and joined the regular Army on December 19, 1945, and was sent to the Panama Canal Zone and later to the Galapious Islands. He was discharged from the regular Army in February 1947, stayed in the Reserve Corps and attended Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. In November, 1947, he was hired as a substitute clerk carrier in the Brenham Post Office Department. He was a quick learner and did an excellent job at the post office, but was again called to active duty in October, 1950, and served in Korea for over a year. After his discharge, he returned to his job in the Brenham Post Office and was promoted to postmaster. He retired as postmaster in January 1986.

Eugene was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #48.

Members of the Knights of Columbus will serve as pallbearers. All employees of the US Post Office are considered honorary pallbearers.

He is survived by his sister Virginia Nowak Guinn, of Houston, Texas, and wife Norma C Nowak of Brenham,Texas; step-children Rick Hill, of Oregon, Sonya Smith, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Scott Hill, of Brenham, Texas, and Angela Denny of Brenham, Texas. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Eugene's family would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Nathan Simons, the staff at Scott and White Hospital and Hospice Brazos Valley. In lieu flowers, please consider donations to St. Mary's Catholic Church or Hospice Brazos Valley.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham. 979.836.3611 Leave a tribute at www.brenhammemorialchapel.com