Writing a capstone piece of journalism on Ed Nadolski’s life is an intimidating task. For decades, family, friends, community acquaintances, and strangers sat down at kitchen tables or behind computer screens to read his words. In a personal essay written shortly after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008, he wrote that nothing had ever come as naturally to him as playing football. For those who knew him, that may be hard to believe. His love for his wife, his children, his family, and his community and the impact he had on each one seemed to flow as naturally from him as the words he wrote over the years. Maybe that’s just a testament to how good he was on the football field.
Ed Nadolski died on Dec. 24 in Burlington after living with dementia for the past two years. He was 62. Mr. Nadolski was born in Port Washington on Jan. 25, 1962, to Duane and Karen Nadolski. He was in the same kindergarten class as his future wife, Jacqueline Rowdon. At Port Washington High, he competed in wrestling, track and field, and, naturally, football where he and his team made it all the way to the state championship in 1979. He studied journalism at UW River Falls from 1980 to 1984, where he continued his prowess on the football field and ran track in the off-season. After graduation, he returned home to Port Washington and worked as a reporter, sports editor, and co-managing editor for the Ozaukee Press until 2000. He and Jacqueline were married in Milwaukee on June 21, 1991.
Ed and Jacqueline had four children and moved to Burlington in 2000 when he took a position as editor-in-chief of the Standard Press. He worked for Southern Lakes Newspapers until his retirement in 2023 and was consistently honored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association for his editing and reporting. His love for his adopted community became evident. A long-time member of the Burlington Rotary Club, Mr. Nadolski served as president from 2007 to 2008. He loved presenting the Rotary Club’s Humanitarian Award each year, which he did with a journalistic fervor. With the Burlington Community Fund, Mr. Nadolski played a role in building Veteran’s Terrace and remodeling the Burlington Community Aquatic Center. He was a member of St. Mary’s Parish where he served as a lector and Eucharistic minister. He also passed on his love of athletics to the next generation, including his own kids, by volunteering with the Jr Demons football teams and the Burlington Girls Softball League.
Mr. Nadolski was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008. In his 16 years living with the disease that would cast a shadow of uncertainty across his life, he stayed active. He was a lifelong athlete dedicated to running, cycling, wakeboarding, and weightlifting as long as his body would let him. His quality of life was kept afloat by a new treatment for lymphoma, and he lived each day with gratitude that he was able to continue doing the things he loved with the people he loved. For several years, he rode in the Scenic Shore 150-mile bike ride, each year raising thousands of dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, grateful for the chance to support the funding of treatment for those suffering from similar cancers. In 2021, when the threat of COVID cancelled the official event, Mr. Nadolski planned a 100-mile route around Burlington that he referred to as “The Southern Lakes Century.” He had pledged to ride his bike in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so he was going to do that, no matter where he was or who was riding with him. Luckily, he was joined by friends and family who rode with him or set up aid stations every 25 miles. “That was just like him,” said his daughter Karley. “He had an unshakeable sense of purpose with just about everything he did, and he always invited others to join him in making himself and the world around him better.”
Mr. Nadolski was dedicated to fostering talent in others and loved supporting his kids in their endeavors. “From plays and concerts to football games and cross-country meets, Dad was always there, exuding pride,” his daughter Lauren said. “No matter what we chose to do and what the outcome was, he was quick to encourage us and celebrate our efforts. He both inspired us to be better and championed us for who we were.” At these concerts, games, and meets, Mr. Nadolski could often be seen behind his camera lens, taking pictures for the paper.
Around the time of his retirement, Mr. Nadolski began to experience early signs of dementia. He was diagnosed in the fall of 2023 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His physical and mental decline was swift. In his last days, he delighted in the simple joys of a Packers’ game (live or from the YouTube archives), a song or album representative of his encyclopedic taste for rock and Americana music, or a #4 with cheese from Jimmy John’s.
Ed Nadolski lived his life with faith, love, grace, and gratitude for each moment he spent amongst loved ones – what he once referred to as “life mundane; life sublime.”
He is preceded in death by his parents, Duane and Karen Nadolski. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline (born Rowdon); and his children Austin (Emily) and Emily (Steven) of Milwaukee, Lauren (Robert) of Minneapolis, and Karley of Washington, DC. He is further survived by his siblings, Kathleen of Port Washington, David (Theresa) of Menomonee Falls, Kristine (Bruce) of Bucyrus, Missouri, John (Shelley) of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, and Andrew of Grafton; and his two granddaughters, Frances and Edie.
A Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Parish at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, followed by a memorial at Veterans Terrace from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Daniels Family Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. The family suggests that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in his name.
The family would also like to thank Dr. Paul Webber, Dr. Syed Haider, Aurora at home hospice care team, Home Helpers, and the staff at Pine Brook Pointe for their excellent care and support.
Well-wishers may visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
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