Jack Nosal

Jack L. Nosal of Columbus, Nebraska, passed away on April 24, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was 81 years old.

Mass of Christian Burial is 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at St. Isidore Catholic Church. Visitation is Monday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. vigil service, all at the church. Visitation will continue Tuesday morning from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Scotus Central Catholic High School, St. Isidore's Elementary School, St. Isidore Catholic Church or The American Heart Association.

Born John Leander to Frank and Ann Nosal, "Jack" was the youngest of six siblings. He graduated from St. Bonaventure High School (now Scotus Central Catholic High School) in 1960, going on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1965 and Master of Science in Education in 1968 at Kearney State College (now University of Nebraska-Kearney). He was a member of the Phi Phi Phi fraternity.

Upon graduation, Jack taught English and Speech at Kearney Catholic High School, assisted in directing the school plays, and assisted in coaching duties for football, basketball, and track, working alongside his future father-in-law.

He met his wife, Kathleen (Cunningham), in 1965, while visiting a student football player in the hospital where Kathy worked as an office clerk during college.

Jack and Kathy married in 1967 and moved to Bartlett, Nebraska, where Jack served as guidance counselor at Wheeler Central High School and Kathy taught home economics.

However, Jack began to feel the pull of entrepreneurship in 1971, and in 1972 Jack and Kathy opened their first Taco John's franchise in Columbus, with an additional restaurant opening in York in 1980 (which they later sold). Jack and Kathy owned and operated the Columbus Taco John's for 42.5 years, until 2015. While Jack could reliably be found every day behind the counter, serving customers and managing employees, he was also active behind the scenes for Taco John's International through many volunteer committees, including: various roles on the Advertising Production Committee; the Franchisee Advisory Board; and as a charter member of Board of Directors of the Association of Taco John's Franchises. Jack was the proud recipient of three distinctions within the Taco John's system: "Mr. Taco" award as outstanding franchisee (1989), the "Golden Circle" award (1990, 1991, 1992), and the National Leadership Award (1997).

In addition to this professional engagement, Jack dedicated his time and talents to numerous community, school, and church organizations as a volunteer. Highlights include: serving as a Commodore of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce; scoring athletes at state golf competitions for the Nebraska School Activities Association; serving as an announcer at high school athletic functions; serving as a long-time lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion EMHC) at St. Isidore's and distributing communion to the infirm; serving on the golf and park boards for the City of Columbus; and coaching numerous elementary school students from St. Isidore's in annual "History Day" competitions that took many to the national stage in Washington, DC.

And then there were sports! A prolific athlete in his younger years, Jack's love of sports was wide-ranging and never-waning. Baseball and golf were his favorite of all. He relished opportunities to watch the Huskers in any sport and remained a steadfast fan of the Packers and Braves. Jack also loved to fish, in all seasons, and was ever-plotting the next golf outing or fishing trip with his tight friend and family group.

Jack was an exceedingly proud and encouraging "grandpa," "papa," and "gramps" of four. From sports to music to robotics to school ceremonies, he rarely missed an activity of theirs. He certainly never missed moments to tell them how much he loved them and to remind them to "stop and smell the roses."

Even through adversities of health, Jack found meaningful ways to give back to the medical community. He was proud to be among the first participants in the United States in clinical research studies to help determine the efficacy of leading-edge surgical interventions. He was invited to speak to panels of doctors about these experiences and results. By doing so, always with his characteristic wit and self-deprecating humor, he helped humanize complex medical diagnoses and their impacts.

Jack was preceded in death by parents Frank and Ann Nosal; brothers Art, Gene, and Ken; and sister Gloria Schaefer. Jack is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughter Courtney (Ryan) Eklund, son Matt, and daughter Melissa; grandchildren Aidan, Emma, Iker, and Izel; sister Sylvia (Virgil) Mostek; and many he called friend.