Mercedes Ann Nowak, 79, of Wells, died Thursday, April 10, 2008, at the New Richland Care Center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells. The Rev. Eugene Stenzel will officiate. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. with a 5 p.m. VFW Auxiliary service at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday with a 9:30 a.m. Rosary. Burial will be in the St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery, Wells.

Mercedes Ann Nowak was born March 3, 1929, in rural Hayfield, Iowa, the daughter of Lewis and Clara (Jakoubek) Formanek. Mercedes married Raymond A. Nowak on May 7, 1952, in Garner, Iowa. She grew up on a farm in rural Hayfield, Iowa, a Bohemian community, and graduated valedictorian of the Class of 1946.

She was active in 4-H, was a bookkeeper, played the organ for her church and was a devoted housewife, raising eight children and working on the family farm. Mercedes also worked at Parkview Nursing Home. She was a mentor for children at the Catholic church, made baptismal gowns and was very active in ladies&8217; auxiliaries, Freeborn Legion and Wells VFW (past president), St. Casimir&8217;s Rosary Society and was a volunteer as Monica cleaning at the church.

She was a great baker, making kolachys, rolachy, doughnuts and decorating cakes. She loved to crochet, play cards, listen to old-time music, and spend time with her grandchildren.

Mercedes was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond; her parents; sister; and two nieces.

She is survived by eight children: James R. (wife Carolyn) Nowak of Geneva, Donald J. (wife Linda) Nowak of Wells, Clara L. (special friend Steve) Halvorson of Billings, Mont., Betty J. (husband Bob) Shannon of Jacksonville, Fla., Edward M. (wife Wendy) Nowak of Janesville, Nancy R. (husband Greg) Dahlen of Hayfield, Charles A. Nowak of Wells, Ruth A. (husband Matthew) Schaper of Wells; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister Helen Townsend of Garner, Iowa; two brothers, Lewis (wife Mary Ann) Formanek of Phoenix, Ariz., and Alan (fiance/ Patty) Formanek of Clear Lake, Iowa.