Maurice D. Wozniak
October 4, 1940 – November 24, 2022
Maurice D. Wozniak, age 82, of Waupaca, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022.
He was born in Wakefield, Michigan, on Oct. 4, 1940, to the late Maurice and Pearl (Tregonning) Wozniak.
On Sept. 28, 1963, he was united in marriage to Suzanne McAleer and together they had five children.
Maurice graduated from McDonell Memorial High School, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and continued his education at UW-Madison, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.
He retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve as Commander after 22 years. He served three years Active Duty with two stints as Commanding Officer of Naval Reserve Public Affairs Company in Milwaukee and his unit was nationally named Best of its Kind.
In his younger years, he excelled in sports, specifically football, baseball, and basketball. His love of sports carried on as he coached Little League baseball and soccer. He became Commissioner of Baseball for the East Side Little League of Milwaukee, expanding the number of teams and leagues fourfold. During his 25 years living in Milwaukee, he also served as a Cub Scout Troop leader.
Maurice was a lifelong avid stamp collector who served seven years as editor of Stamp Collector and The Stamp Wholesaler publications and Minkus catalogs at Krause Publications in Iola, Wisconsin, also author of three stamp collecting catalogs.
For 26 years, he worked as a reporter and editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Positions included business news reporter, associate editor of Sunday Magazine, director of “Ask the Journal” consumer action line, special sections editor and state news desk copy editor. He served as an elected member and president of the company’s Advisory Unit Holders Council.
He was president of the Milwaukee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), hosting the National Convention during his tenure. He testified at a Wisconsin governmental hearing in support of freedom of information.
He was a co-founder and member of a national organization of action line columnists and reporters. Also founding member of the Society of Professional Journalists chapter of Evansville, Indiana.
He was a member of the Journalism Fraternity (SDX), the Raconteurs Writers Group and a member of the Unit Holders Council of The Milwaukee Journal Company.
An enthusiastic trustee board member of Winchester Academy since 1996 and after moving to Waupaca in 2005, he served as president for the Winchester Academy in Waupaca for seven years.
He will be dearly missed by his wife Suzanne of Waupaca; son James “Harry” Wozniak of San Luis Obispo, California; daughter Laurel (Ramzi) Nader of Amman, Jordan; daughter Krista Wozniak of New York, New York; son Andrew Wozniak of West Allis, Wisconsin; and son Thomas (Aimee) Wozniak of Milwaukee.
He is also survived by grandchildren: Nicole Nader of Chicago, Illinois, Joseph Nader of Amman, Jordan; Maegan Wozniak of Milwaukee; Fritz Wozniak and Laurence Wozniak of San Luis Obispo, California; Benjamin Wozniak and Sarah Wozniak of Milwaukee; sisters Nancy Watton of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and Margaret Wozniak of Bloomer, Wisconsin; and a brother Douglas (Sue) Wozniak of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Maurice was preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Pearl Wozniak, his parents-in-law James and Irene McAleer, and a brother-in-law Patrick McAleer.
The memorial Mass will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Waupaca, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, with Fr. Xavier Santiago presiding. The visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the church. Burial and military honors will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 8, at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Winchester Academy, Foundations for Living, or the family.