Date of Death: November 10, 2025
Service Details
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 332 State St., Mendon, with Msgr. Thomas Martin officiating. Joe will be laid to rest in Parkville Cemetery.
Obituary Notice
Joseph Richard Nowicki Sr.
August 8, 1941 – November 10, 2025
Joseph Richard Nowicki Sr., 84, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, November 10, 2025, surrounded by the comfort of the place and people he loved most.
Born August 8, 1941, in Detroit, Joe was the son of Joseph P. and Catherine (Stachurski) Nowicki. He graduated from Detroit Pershing High School and went on to serve his country proudly in the U.S. Navy.
Joe began his career as a carpet installer with The J.L. Hudson Company in Detroit, before joining Central Tile & Terrazzo, where he worked for many years as a professional and skilled flooring installer. Along the way, he also operated his own business, Joe’s Carpet Service, earning a reputation for craftsmanship and integrity.
In 1963, Joe married the love of his life, Bonnie Gierak. Together they shared 46 wonderful years of marriage until her passing in 2009. Their close ties with the Dobrowolski family, which dated back to the early 1900s, brought them to Fisher Lake, where they built their home and made countless memories after settling there permanently in 1978.
Joe was a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church, the American Legion Post #170, and the Three Rivers Eagles #2303.
A man who embraced life’s simple pleasures, Joe enjoyed bowling, deer hunting, watching football and WWE wrestling, and relaxing by the water at Fisher Lake. Whether taking a pontoon ride, listening to polka music, or savoring a plate of good Polish food, he found joy in every moment. Above all, Joe loved being surrounded by family and friends — the heart and foundation of his life.
Those who knew Joe will remember his strength, humor, and spirited opinions — traits that made him the tough but loving center of his family.
He is survived by his children, Joseph (Sherrie) Nowicki Jr, Richard (Nicole) Nowicki, and Cheri (Genny) Nowicki; grandchildren, Ryan Nowicki, Cauryn Nowicki, Britt Smolen, Breanna (James) Litzow, Alecia (Adam) Boatman, Genna (Jonny) Adams, Tyler Leiter, and Gage Leiter; great-grandchildren, Ethan Boatman, Ellie Boatman, McKennan Adams, and Charlie Smolen; and sister, Rosalie Kolakovich.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Bonnie; infant son, Joseph R. Nowicki; and brother-in-law, Robert Kolakovich.
Additional Information
Memorial donations in Joe’s name may be directed to the Fisher Lake Association, St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Whitetails Unlimited, or the American Heart Association. Envelopes will be available at Hohner Funeral Home and at the church.
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Thank you all for sharing you condolences and stories. We all hold on to the fond memories that bring us simple joy.
Nowicki family
Joe and Sherri,
I’m so sorry to hear that your dad passed away. He was a dad and grandpa. I remember one night we got a call of a van into a tree when I went up to the van, I knew him right off the bat. No one knew what was in the bucket. I told him that it was carpet glue. Again I’m so, so Sorry. RIP JOE Sr
Jan and I and family send our condolences.
My memories of Uncle Joe are of countless boat rides and pulling me for the 15th time around Fisher Lake on the water Toboggan.
He never complained as the Polish music played on the 8 track. I think of this a few times a summer since I am now the “Uncle Joe” as I take great nieces/nephews/friends kids on tubes around and around.
Uncle Joe, never shy about his thoughts about the Tigers or the Pistons as the TV was on.
I also enjoyed the stories he told about my parents when they were younger.
The Fisher Lake Cottage are decades of wonderful memories growing up in a Polish extended family.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Papa Joe. He will be profoundly missed and lovingly remembered for his genuine hospitality and quiet kindness that touched everyone who knew him.
We’ll never forget the pride in his eyes as he showed off the deer he had shot, hanging to dry in the garage like a trophy of a moment he cherished. And we’ll always hold close the laughter shared out on the lake, drifting on the pontoon boat, where his joy was contagious and his stories unforgettable.
May his memory bring comfort, and may the warmth he shared continue to live on in all of us.
Anne and I send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Nowicki family.
So many warm and wonderful memories of times spent with my Uncle Joe. The earliest memories include Joe inviting my brother Jim and me to join him for a winter weekend visit circa late 60s to the Nowicki cottage (the trailer) on Fisher Lake for a guys weekend. Joe and Bonnie were living in Romulus at the time and I believe Joe was still an installer for Hudson’s (and yes he did participate in at least one of the Hudson’s Thanksgiving Day Parades). We spent the weekend ice fishing and Joe even broke out his ice skates so he could skate with Jim and me on the lake (he did great by the way).
Joe always made visiting Fisher Lake fun and entertaining. Truly enjoyed fishing with him and very thankful he taught me to water ski. He was very good at it and because of him it was something I enjoyed for many years.
When I attended college in the late 70s/early 80s at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo Joe was incredibly helpful, gracious and supportive. Whenever possible he would invite me to work with him on carpet installation jobs which provided me some very welcomed spending money.
He was a very skilled craftsman and worked amazingly fast. I recall him mentioning he installed carpeting in the State Capital in Lansing. He didn’t make a big deal about it, but I believe he was chosen because he was the most talented person for the job.
Joe was also a great teacher and taught me how to lay out, seam and stretch carpet. Over the years I did a number of carpet installs for friends and family all because of the knowledge Joe shared with me.
It was also during my college years Joe asked me to join his bowling team even though I was a lousy bowler. Joe however was an incredibly good bowler, one of the best in the entire league. Had a lot of fun with Joe and teammates Ron and Wes at the bowling alley during those seasons.
After receiving permission from Chet Dobrowolski, Joe welcomed me to hunt with him on the Dobrowolski farm property. Great memories of those times with Joe, Joe Jr., Rick and Bob. He absolutely loved hunting season, and opening day was like Christmas for him.
I truly appreciate, and will forever be grateful for all the things Joe did for me, love you Uncle Joe!
My Uncle Joe is truly gonna be missed by all . He was my parents best friends life long .. I will never forget the good times at the lake pills on the pontoon and some of the crazy things he did like taking his boat in for a quick fix and coming home with a new one good times together.. Always had a smirk and smile .. My mom is heart broken 💔 we all are .. He has such an amazing family and they are very lucky to have such good memories with them .. He is in heaven either everyone special we have lost and is Joe our polish angel looking down on us daily .. Hea with my dad joking and laughing like they always did .. Grrat memories and I will truly miss him .. God Bless and prayers. The Boards