Nick Paul Tarnowski

Nick Paul Tarnowski, age 64, passed away December 16, 2023, at Elysian Senior Living and Dementia Care.  He was born March 8, 1959, in Duluth, Minnesota to Stephen and Junella Tarnowski. After graduating in 1980 from Denfeld High School, Nick worked for the Goodwill, Sbarro’s Pizza and Realife.  He received many honors in the Special Olympics in swimming, track, and bowling…once bowling a 222!  A collection of certificates, ribbons, trophies, and awards are a tribute to his work ethic.  He loved sports, fishing, the cabin, adventures, travel and organizing things. Nick also was an altar server at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church.

Nick had Down syndrome but was blessed with a quick wit and a sense of humor and endless supply of hugs. We cannot imagine our life without him and all the unconditional love he brought to those he met. His purpose in life was to work on our hearts to make us better people. 

A simple story best describes who Nick was as a person: Nick’s mom and sister were driving by a care facility where his two aunts were living.  Nick was sitting quietly in the back seat.  Mom lamented that she wanted to stop and visit her sisters but had nothing to bring them.  A little voice from the backseat tenderly said, “You can bring them love.”

Nick was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by seven siblings: Nancy (Tom) Willette, St. Louis Park; Fred (Maribeth) Tarnowski, Knife River; Roberta (Mike) Wozniak, Carver; Barbara (Rick) Oase, Duluth; Rosemary Tarnowski, Duluth; Steven (Celia) Tarnowski, Duluth; Anthony (Liza) Tarnowski, Duluth. 

Special people who touched Nick’s life included mentors in DRCC and the Special Olympics, as well as Fran M., Sue M., Gary and Bobbie S., Nick W., Peg, and Kevin D., the McKenzies, Realife friends, Jan T. and those in People of Praise Christian Community who loved and supported him.

Many thanks to those who gave Nick such tender loving care at Elysian and Gentiva Hospice as well as his social workers.

Psalm 90 tells us a human life may sometimes look too short to be worth much, but God, who see the works of His hands from the perspective of enduring love, clothes even the passing wildflowers with splendor.  We are only dust…but beloved dust!

Visitation Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, at 10:00am and will continue to the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1419 St. Benedict St, Duluth MN. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Duluth.  Please visit www.dfhduluth.com to sign the online guestbook.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2^nd St., Duluth MN, 55805, 218-727-3555.

Psalm 139:13 “…you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully (awesome) and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works…”