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A Funeral Service for Pamela Nonken will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Graveside at Mound Zion Cemetery 14510 W. North Avenue in Brookfield, WI

Enter the cemetery through the middle gate; the gravesite is located at the far north end of the cemetery.  The off-ramp to W. North Avenue is currently closed.  Please adjust your travel time accordingly.

If desired, memorials to Jewish Home and Care Center, Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun or the charity of your choice.

Pamela Peckarsky Nonken

April 11, 1943 – April 30, 2023

Pamela Nonken, daughter of Charles Weinberg Peckarsky and Libbie Pass Peckarsky, was born in Milwaukee, WI.  She graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and earned her BA Degree in Speech/Theatre Arts at UW-Madison. She met Harold Nonken at the Hillel at UW, and they married in 1965. Harold taught Social Studies at Elston High School in Michigan City, IN, for six years, pursued a PhD in Social Studies Education at  Purdue University,  sold promotional merchandise for K-Promotions in Milwaukee, and founded the Promotional Marketing Group.

In 1974, Harold, Pamela, and their daughters Melissa and Marilyn moved to Shorewood, WI.  Pamela discovered that Melissa was allergic to Baker’s Yeast, so she developed a diet featuring recipes without yeast. Dr. S. Roger Hirsch, Melissa’s allergist, asked her to also develop recipes without eggs, milk, soy, corn, and wheat. The Allergy Cookbook and Food-Buying Guide (Warner Books, 1982), which they wrote together, was internationally acclaimed by physicians and patients.

Pamela co-authored two more books. In 1985, she wrote Milwaukee & More, a tourist guide, with Nancy Luck and Barbara Smilow, which received the Council For Wisconsin Writers New Book Award. In 1993, she collaborated with Gertrude Kazlov on Milwaukee & More – A New Guide, reflecting changes in the city since the first edition.

Pamela did market research when her children were young and sold advertising for the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle and Milwaukee Magazine. In 1984, Harold and Pamela formed Nonken Promotions (later, Promotional Marketing Group).  Their “woman owned and operated” family business was known for exemplary customer service to corporations around the world, with Pamela as Vice President and President.

Pamela’s interest in genealogy began in 1974 after taking a class at the Milwaukee Public Museum. She explored the Peckarsky, Malkin,and Nankin family histories. The Nankins were Kohanim who traveled through Nanking and Kaifeng, China, then through Eastern Europe. She connected family members around the world.

Harold and Pamela enjoyed travel (to Hong Kong, the Caribbean, and around the United States), exercise, music, and the New York Times crossword puzzles. Pamela was an experienced and creative knitter – Tikkun Ha-Ir, Project Linus, Native American homes for the elderly,  and numerous shelters have benefitted from her handiwork.

Harold and Pamela were married for 54 years, and Harold died in 2019.  Pamela is survived by her daughters Melissa Nonken Gursky and Marilyn Nonken Hunka (George Hunka).  She was devoted and adoring “Baba” to Benjamin, Shaina, and Alexander Gursky and “Grandmom” to Charlie and Billie Hunka.  Other survivors are sister Pettra Peckarsky Pollack, other relatives, and loving friends.

The family would welcome donations to Jewish Home and Care Center, Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, or the charity of your choice.