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Dr. L. H. Nowack

 

Dr. L. W. Nowack

 

1913-2001

 

519 East Main Street

WHS_006_075b     c1957

 

WHS_005_289     1975

 

c.1915

LOUIS H. NOWACK, 1ST LT MEDICAL CORPS

  

WORLD WAR I

 

1931

LOUIS W. NOWACK

      THE KLUB member

        Watertown High School

 

1953

07 20       Dr. L. H. NOWACK RESTORES REPLICA OF OCTAGON HOUSE

This year the miniature Octagon House may be said to rival its parent structure in the field of favorable criticism and attention.

 

In sunshine or rain it stands in all its new splendor seeking as it were the protective wing of the nigh century-old building at its side, the Octagon House itself, where it is on display.

 

Dr. L. H. Nowack. retired Watertown physician, has shown a decided aptitude in the restoration of the replica which was about ready to collapse due to its general debility and wasting away of its parts.

 

Dr. Nowack, with the skill of a veteran cabinet-maker, restored every detail of the miniature Octagon House, even to the openings for the lentils at the front door.  It required unlimited patience and expertness, which many employed regularly in the wood-makers art had refused to attempt.

 

The verandas with their intricate railings and the top balustrade between the four chimneys are now complete.  The front and side porch steps with the bay-window and the detailed French windows and paneled doors are very realistic.  Miniature blinds have been attached with tiny screws and the wood used throughout gives the entire structure a tone of permanence.

 

It has been placed on a cement foundation which makes it appear as if it is aspiring to the stature at the Octagon House itself.

 

Dr. L. H. Nowack has several hobbies which include floral culture and poultry raising, but he seems to have excelled in wood craft.  He is also a member of the Watertown Board of Education.   WDT

 

1954       APPOINTED WATERTOWN’S HEALTH OFFICER, Nov. 1, 1954.

 

1957

03 02       MIXING GARBAGE AND RUBBISH

Dr. L .H. Nowack, city commissioner of health, said today that despite warnings in the past some persons here are still mixing garbage and rubbish and expect the city department to collect it.  He said that there have been numerous statements issued by him in the past which have defined what constitutes garbage and rubbish and that despite this some persons are still mixing the two in their garbage cans.   WDT

 

1958

02 14       TO LEAVE FOR BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY

Dr. L. W. Nowack, with offices at 519 Main Street, announced today that he will leave the city on April 1 to go to Bowling Green University at Bowling Green, Ohio.  His family will remain here until the schools close in June and then plans to join him in Ohio.  Dr. Nowack said that Dr. Raymond Doyle would take over his office here and that Mrs. Mary Murphy, a registered nurse who is employed in Dr. Nowack's office, will remain.  Dr. Nowack at this time declined to enlarge on his future plans.   WDT

 

1958

03 11       AUF WIEDERSEHEN

Sunday evening, in expression of their appreciation for the services rendered to them and to their families by Dr. Louis W. Nowack, a group of about 124 individuals met at the Legion Green Bowl to share in an “Auf Wiedersehen” dinner honoring the doctor.  The event was arranged as a surprise to Dr. and Mrs. Nowack.  Maurice Lawton was the master of ceremonies.  Highlight of the evening was a sketch entitled “This Is Your Life, Dr. Louis Willard Nowack.”  The sketch, which was presented by Mrs. Peter McFarland, expressed in behalf of the patients present, the feeling of esteem and good fellowship each felt toward the doctor.   WDT

 

1959

02 27       DR. L. W. NOWACK HONORED BY BOWLING GREEN STATE

Ralph W. McDonald, president of Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, O., has highly commended the work a former Watertown resident, Dr. L. W. Nowack, has done since joining the faculty staff of the institution last year.  Dr. Nowack gave up his practice here to become associated with the university and he and his family moved to Bowling Green where they are now residing.  Dr. Nowack's father is Watertown's commissioner of health, Dr. L. H. Nowack.   WDT

 

1962

04 25       DR. L. H. NOWACK RESIGNED AS HEALTH COMMISSIONER

Dr. L. H. Nowack, 300 Elizabeth Street, Watertown’s health officer since Nov. 1, 1954, has resigned his position as of May 11.  Dr. Nowack, 78, submitted his resignation to Mayor Robert P. White.  The mayor is due to make an announcement of an appointment to the position at the next council meeting when he submits a nomination for confirmation.   WDT

 

05 31       DR. L. H. NOWACK TRIBUTE

A dinner was held Saturday night at the Legion Green Bowl to pay tribute to Dr. L. H. Nowack, retiring city health commissioner.  Thirty-four city officials and their wives attended the dinner to honor the doctor for his many years of service to the community.  Mayor R. P. White, master of ceremonies for the evening, pointed out many of the highlights in the life of Dr. Nowack.  Mayor White thanked him for his many years of service to the city and extended to Dr. and Mrs. Nowack the wishes of the citizens of Watertown for an enjoyable retirement.   WDT

 

1967

10 22       DR. L. H. NOWACK, 1883-1967

     

 

1971

02 22       Dr. LOUIS W. NOWACK, CHIEF OF STAFF, WATERTOWN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

A person in a suit and tie

Description automatically generated with medium confidence        Dedication event of new hospital

 

1977

07 12       NOWACK FUND USED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT

Proceeds from the Nowack fund have been used to purchase equipment for the Emergency Department of Watertown Memorial Hospital. The fund was started by friends and patients of Dr. Louis W. Nowack following his recent retirement.  The money, which was donated to the local institution at his request, will be used for the purchase of three new patient carts and a vacuum attachment for the cast cutter. The fund will also be used to help underwrite the educational costs of local students entering a health field. A total of 338 persons contributed a total of $7,867 to the fund. A bronze plaque recognizing fund donors and honoring Dr. Nowack has been placed at the entrance to the emergency room.

 

1983

11 19       Dr. L. W. NOWACK CONTINUES AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF MARQUARDT MANOR 

Dr. Louis W. Nowack, a retired Watertown physician, will leave his position as health commissioner for the city, effective Dec. 30 of this year.  Mayor Kenneth Thiel announced Nowack's resignation at Tuesday evening's meeting of the Watertown City Council.  Dr. Nowack will continue as medical director of Marquardt Memorial Manor.    WDT

 

1984

08 06       MAIN STREET BRIDGE NAMED NOWACK

Dr. Louis W. Nowack, longtime Watertown physician who currently serves as medical director of Marquardt Memorial Manor, has been named winner of the downtown Main Street bridge naming contest.  Nowack was nominated for his work in the community and the many hours of caring for residents and employees at Marquardt, will receive the award in a ceremony at 8:15 tonight at the Riverside Park bandshell.   WDT

 

1991

05 23       DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CITATION

Louis Nowack, M.D., medical director at Marquardt Memorial Manor, will receive a Distinguished Service citation from Madison Area Technical College at a graduation ceremony Saturday at the Dane County Coliseum. The Distinguished Service citation is awarded to individuals and organizations who have contributed unusual or meritorious service to MATC. He was nominated for the award by MATC-Watertown teachers Jean Jacob and JoAnn Schilling for his support and contributions to the local campus.   WDT

 

Summer   PROFILE OF LOUIS W. NOWACK, M.D.

       MARQUARDT’S CARING MEDICAL DIRECTOR

From Marquardt Village News, Summer 1991

 

While all residents of Marquardt Village are required to have their own personal physicians, Marquardt Manor has its own medical director.  He’s an outstanding retired Watertown physician, Louis W. Nowack, M.D.

 

Dr. Nowack’s first “official” connection with Marquardt came as a member of its board of directors, from 1975 to 1980.  His informal ties as a physician at Marquardt go back about 20 years.  And he became its medical director soon after his retirement in 1976.

 

Louie - people rarely call him “doctor” -- is a Watertown native.  He graduated from Watertown High School in 1930 and was valedictorian of his class.  Then He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1935.  He continued his education at that school where he received his medical degree in 1939 following an internship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison.

 

After graduation, he began practiced in Watertown with his father, Dr. Louis H. Nowack.  World War II had begun in Europe and Louie applied for a reserve commission.  He was made a captain in the 127th Infantry, 32nd (Red Arrow) Division.  It wasn’t long after that his unit was called to active duty.  The regiment was first sent to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana.  From there he was moved to Randolph Field in Texas for further military training.  Within a short time he was detailed to the Army’s Medical Field Service School, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  He graduated from it on December 7, 1941, the very day that Pearl Harbor was attacked, throwing the United States directly into the war.

 

Applications for the Army Air Corps were being taken during this time and Louie applied for transfer to it  He was accepted and in late 1942 shipped out to England as a flight surgeon.  The long flight included stops at Gander, Newfoundland, and Polebrook, Scotland.  A companion on the trip was one of Hollywood’s most famous personalities, movie star Clark Gable, now also in the Air Corps.

 

Upon arriving in England, Louie was named the first flight surgeon of the 351st Bomb Group which later became part of the renowned Eighth Air Force.  He was stationed at High Wycombe.

 

As his B-17 unit accelerated its daytime bombing raids on Germany, it became apparent to Louie that many casualties aboard returning aircraft had to be treated in the planes themselves as soon as they touched down.  Especially difficult to reach were tail and ball-turret gunners, whose turrets were often damaged with wounded in them.  With others, he came up with a solution, a traveling mini-emergency room which went directly to the wounded when needed. 

 

The vehicles best suited to this task were British lorries which were converted to hold four wounded men on litters, plus the doctor and one or two corpsmen. These were the forerunners of today’s high - tech emergency ambulances. 

 

As he treated the men of his outfit, Louie noted that a number of aircrew personnel were experiencing extreme stress or anxiety when on their bombing missions.  To help reassure some of these crewmen, he went on raids with them, even though he was not required to do so.  He voluntarily made five such trips over Germany.

 

Many older Watertownians remember the flight jacket he had worn on those missions.  After the war, he often wore it when making emergency house calls at night.

 

While in England, the officers of his group were quartered in small three or four room huts at their base.  Louie and Clark Gable lived in adjoining rooms in one of these huts for some time.

 

He was ultimately returned to the U. S.  During his tour in Europe he had earned the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Soldier’s Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, as well as the usual array of campaign ribbons.  He was discharged as a lieutenant colonel in 1945.

 

Following his military service Louie returned to Watertown and resumed working with his father.  His dad retired shortly thereafter, however, and Louie continued to practice alone.  He did so from 1945 until his retirement in 1976, with the exception of a two-year stint (1958-1960) at Bowling Green University in Ohio as resident physician.  In Watertown he was a family practitioner although he was heavily committed to obstetrics and gynecology.  He also performed surgery extensively.

 

Louie is not one to sit back and watch the world go by.  He served many years as a director of the Merchant’s National Bank, now Bank One.  For years he was the city health commissioner.

 

His countless unselfish acts of helping people in the community are well known.  He’s given financial aid to dozens of students who needed that kind of help, including the granting of scholarships.  When some local nursing students lacked textbooks because they didn’t have money to buy them, he plunked down $500 to pay for them.  And when certain families were in dire need, he bought groceries for them, and children’s clothing, and more.

 

Louie even has time for reading which he enjoys immensely.  But he’s had to cut that back somewhat in the last few years because of eye problems.  He’s also a boating lover who doesn’t get on the water now as much as in earlier years.

 

Louie has received wide recognition for his many contributions to the community.  This year he received a Distinguished Service citation from Madison Area Technical College, in large measure because of his on-going assistance in the nursing programs of the MATC-Watertown campus.  Many of these nursing students are employed at Marquardt where he can work directly with them.  He has twice been the grand marshal of local parades, and has had the Main Street bridge named for him for a year in 1984.

 

Louie is far more than a fine physician and good citizen.  He’s been married for many years to his wife, Esther.  They have three children. Robert is an associate professor of physics at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.  Judy works as assistant to the vice president of academic affairs at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  Mary Helen is in private practice as a psychologist at Michigan State University, East Lansing.

 

Marquardt is proud to have such an outstanding member of its staff as Louie - Dr. Louis W. Nowack.

 

1993

07 07       DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CITATION

A well-known Watertown physician has announced his second retirement.  Dr. Louis W. Nowack has retired from Marquardt Memorial Manor where he has served as medical director for many years.  A retirement party in his honor was held Wednesday at Marquardt.  Prior to joining Marquardt, he was active in the medical profession for 35 years before closing his local practice in 1976.  With his 80th birthday approaching on Sunday, Nowack said, "I've done my duty and I'm kind of worn out."  His duties at Marquardt included lending his medical expertise to staff members.     WDT

 

2001       DR. L. W. NOWACK

Nowack was born July 11, 1913, in Watertown, son of Dr. Louis and Clara (Hilgendorf) Nowack.  He married the former Esther Witzke on Oct. 17, 1945, in Watertown.  She preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 1993.

 

Nowack was a graduate of Watertown High School, Northwestern University and Northwestern Medical School.  A physician and surgeon, he practiced in Watertown for 35 years.

 

Nowack was an Army flight surgeon during World War II and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.  He was called to active duty in October 1940.  He attended flight surgeon school at Randolph Field and left for overseas in April 1943.  He served with the 8th Air Force Somber in England, and also served in France and Germany.

 

While in the military Dr. Nowack was the subject of a lengthy feature story written by United Press International.  That article was titled "He never lost a man who came back to his base alive," and was distributed to U.P. clients worldwide on June 29, 1944.  The article detailed his incredible military successes of saving the lives of soldiers injured in the war.

 

Nowack served as a flight surgeon in combat and on reconnaissance missions. He coordinated military ambulances and doctors meeting returning aircraft as well as directing ambulances and doctors in the field.  He devised, designed and implemented techniques to prevent amputation of limbs of injured soldiers.

 

Among his many military decorations were the Air Medal, Bronze Star, Soldiers Medal, Flight Surgeon Wings, Lt. Colonel Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Unit Presidential Citation, Theater of Operations Medical and Theater of Operations - European Active Theater.

 

Nowack also served as Watertown Commissioner of Health, director of the former Marine Bank Watertown, Johnson Arms board of directors, Watertown Memorial Hospital board of directors and in retirement served as medical director at Marquardt Memorial Manor.

 

Nowack received a citation on Dec. 29, 1976, for his 35 years of selfless dedication and sacrifice demonstrated while serving the Watertown community and its hospital.  He received the Outstanding Community Leader citation from the Jefferson County chapter of the Reserve Officer Association on May 18, 1982.  The Watertown Jaycees honored him on April 7, 1970, for outstanding and unselfish medical service during the previous 31 years.  In 1958 he received a citation from the Bowling Green State University football team.  He had served at Bowling Green for several years.

 

The Main Street bridge in Watertown was renamed the Dr. L. W. Nowack Bridge on Aug. 18, 1984, during Watertown River Days.  The bridge naming for one year was in recognition of his contributions to the city of Watertown.

 

On May 18, 1991, he received the Madison Area Technical College Distinguished Service Citation for his exceptional effort on behalf of the college.

 

He served as a grand marshal for the annual Fourth of July parade and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest award given by Rotary International.

 

He presented scholarships to more than 20 local young people and established a fund to purchase medical equipment for Watertown Memorial Hospital.   WDT

 

 

Cross reference:

Home of Dr. Nowack, 105 N. Concord Ave   

 

 

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