Maurice D. Wozniak, age 82, of Waupaca, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

He was born in Wakefield, MI on October 4, 1940 to the late Maurice and Pearl (Tregonning) Wozniak. On September 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, WI and continued his education at UW-Madison, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.

Retired US Naval Reserve as Commander after 22 years. Served 3 years Active Duty. Served 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 7 years as editor of Stamp Collector and The Stamp Wholesaler publications and Minkus catalogs at Krause Publications in Iola, WI, 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.

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, CA; daughter, Laurel (Ramzi) Nader of Amman, Jordan; daughter, Krista Wozniak of New York, NY; son, Andrew Wozniak of West Allis and son, Thomas (Aimee) Wozniak of Milwaukee. He is also survived by grandchildren: Nicole Nader of Chicago, IL, Joseph Nader of Amman, Jordan, Maegan Wozniak of Milwaukee, Fritz Wozniak and Laurence Wozniak of San Luis Obispo, CA, Benjamin Wozniak and Sarah Wozniak of Milwaukee; sisters Nancy Watton of Chippewa Falls, Margaret Wozniak of Bloomer and a brother Douglas (Sue) Wozniak of Chippewa Falls; 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 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, 2022 with Fr. Xavier Santiago presiding. The visitation was held from 10 until 11 a.m. at the church. Burial and military honors will be held at 3 p.m. December 8, 2022 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. www.maplecrestfuneralhome.com