Dennis Nowak

Dennis James Nowak, age 54, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was born on December 25, 1970, in Toledo, Ohio. His parents were Leonard Joseph Nowak Jr. and Anna Marie Nowak nee Ely.

Dennis grew up in Toledo with his older brother, Joseph Daniel Nowak. Dennis’ lifelong best friend is Roger Jaquay of Toledo. They attended Newbury Elementary and Jones Jr. High in Toledo. Roger and Dennis graduated together from Libby High School in 1990. The family also lived in Florida for several years during Dennis’ childhood. One of Dennis’ favorite jobs after high school was at the Toledo Zoo where he was the Train Conductor and worked as an Elephant Handler.

Dennis and his mother’s family moved to Las Cruces/Chapparal, New Mexico in his 20s. Dennis had several jobs in Las Cruces, including Honey Production for B’s Honey Company and Customer Service for Directory Assistance and Frontier Airlines.

Dennis met his wife, Jeannine Marie Nowak nee Sandefur in 1996. They were married in Chapparal, on March 27, 1999. They had two daughters: Rebecca Marie Nowak and Amanda Jane Nowak.

Dennis loved sports including horseshoes, golf, hockey and football. He also enjoyed bowling, fishing, and camping. Dennis also ran a successful comedy TikTok account where he made a lot of friends and made a lot of people laugh.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Jeannine, his children, Rebecca and Amanda of Las Cruces; his brother, Joseph Nowak of Somerset, TX; his aunt, Christine “Tina” Nowak of Las Cruces; nephews Joseph Nowak Jr. and Steven Nowak of Las Cruces; his niece Brianna Glasscock of Las Cruces; his cousins Thomas Nowak of Las Cruces, Jennifer and James Pierce of Rogersville, TN; Roger Jaquay of Toledo; friends, Mike Johnson and Mike Romine of Ohio; and good friend’s daughter Kaitlyn Davidson of Truth or Consequences, NM.

Dennis was predeceased by his father Leonard Nowak in 2005; his mother Anna Marie Nowak in 2022; his good friend Ed Salas in 2003; his good friend Melissa “Missy” Davidson in 2019; his Uncle Richard Ely in 2013; his paternal Grandparents, Leonard Frank Nowak Sr. and Evelyn Jane Nowak nee Snyder; his maternal Grandparents, Junior R. Ely and Alexandra “Wanda” Ely nee Szutienko.

A Celebration of Dennis’ Life will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 6:00pm at the Home of Dennis’ Cousin, Thomas Nowak.