Conrad Wayne “Papa” Nowels of Farmington Hills passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the very young age of 94. Papa was born on October 14,1927 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Addison and Annie Nowels.

Papa was a true Michigander, outdoorsman, craftsman, and frequenter of diners. While he was enjoying a meal in the late 1940s at the local diner next to the family Ford dealership, he befriended a couple that insisted he meet their lovely daughter. Soon after the diner conversation, he fell deeply in love with Judy and was happily married to her for the next fifty years.

Papa proudly raised his two terrific kids, Christine and Douglas. He was ever-present in their lives by sharing the joy of horseback riding and teaching them the game of hockey.

Always a fierce family man, Papa spent decades being a dedicated father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Later in life, his family expanded when he married Joyce and welcomed her daughters and their families to the fold.

Papa was a fighter until the very end, having survived the Great Depression, a World War, a brain aneurysm in his 70s, and even his granddaughter’s driving. In recent years, he kept busy visiting with endless friends over coffee, enjoying meals and other milestone celebrations with family, cheering on his beloved Red Wings, taking his annual trip up to Marquette, MI for hunting adventures at the Hot Dog Lodge, in addition to spending quiet weekend afternoons in his backyard shop creating something beautiful.

Papa was preceded in death by his loving wives, Judy for 50 years, and Joyce for 9. In his lifetime, he also said goodbye as a caring brother to Doris (Bob), Robert (Audrey), and Margaret (Ralph). He is survived by his children, Christine (Jim), and Douglas (Tammie), as well as his step-daughters, Gayle, Barbie (Ken), and Annie (Jim). He was a proud grandfather of Aaron, Kendra (Aric), Katie (Mark), Kimberlee (Sean), and Kyle (TBD). He was the proud great-grandfather of Bella, Jackson, Keegan, Oliver, Tyler, Maxwell, Charles Conrad, Myles Conrad, and Krew. Additionally, Papa leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

The Nowels family will receive guests at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home, located at 33603 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI 48335, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 4-8 p.m. There will also be a visitation on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at noon, followed by his celebration of life service at 1:00 p.m. inside Thayer-Rock Funeral Home. The funeral service will be live-streamed and easily viewed by clicking Here the day of the funeral. The funeral will begin at 1:00 pm. Cemetery services will follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial gifts be made to the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation (“PHSACF”) to benefit the Harbor Springs Opportunity Scholarship Fund (“HSOS Fund”). This scholarship was very near to Papa's heart as it was started by his grandson, Kyle Nowels and two of his classmates. Your gift can be made in Memory of Conrad Wayne Nowels. Gifts can be mailed to the PHSACF at 616 Petoskey St, Suite 203, Petoskey, Michigan 49770 or made online at www.phsacf.org/giving/donate/.