Robert "Bob" Jerome Nowak, 77, of Manistee passed away October 4, 2023.

Bob was an avid outdoors man who loved to fish and hunt with his two best friends, Eugene Ax "Uncle Booky" and Larry Krusniak. He also had many fond memories of the fishing trips he took with a group of his buddies to Canada.

Bob met the love of his life, Margaret Charlton, while in high school but life took them in separate directions. Years later when they met back up at a class reunion the sparks flew and they found their way back to each other. Anyone could see the love these two felt for each other. They married in 2004 but the Lord took Margaret home in 2008.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret; his parents, Regina and Jerome Nowak; and sister, Jeannie Bialik. He is survived by his daughters, Kendra (Trish) Nowak of Elkhart, IN; Kristen (Darin) Sytek and their sons, Caden and Cohen of Twin Lake, MI; Kimberly (Dan) Bolles and their daughters Delaney and Alexis of Twin Lake, MI; step daughter, Molly Thompson and her children, Aidan and McKenna of Point Harbor, NC; step son, Jared (Dayna) Thompson and their children, Max and Margaret of Bloomington, IN; sister, Janet Makowski of Manistee; sister in law, Susy Stein of Elizabeth City NC; and multiple nephews and nieces; and best friends, Eugene Ax and Larry Krusniak.

Bob's best friend, Eugene was there for him in so many ways, including taking care of Bob's little dog, Maggie, for the last few years of Maggie's life. It meant the world to Bob that Eugene and his wife, Phyllis, took such good care of Maggie when Bob was no longer able to. Many thanks to both Eugene and Larry for visiting Bob and sending cards to him these last two years while he was in the nursing home.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee, with Reverend Mitchel Roman officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery, also in Manistee. The family will receive friends at the funeral home, on Tuesday morning, one hour prior to the funeral service.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.