James “Joe” L. Novak, 85, of Beaver Dam passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 408 S. Spring Street, Beaver Dam with Father Michael Erwin and Father Charles Scheuerell officiating. A visitation will be held on Sunday, July 27th at Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home, N7199 N. Crystal Lake Rd., Beaver Dam from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., and also on Monday, July 28th at St. Katharine Drexel Parish from 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, with graveside military rites to be conducted by the Beaver Dam American Legion Post #146.
He was born the son of Joseph and Florence (Immerfall) Novak on September 17, 1928 in Beloit, Wisconsin. He was a 1946 Beaver Dam High School graduate. On February 23, 1957, he was married to Yvonne L. Goodrich at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Beaver Dam.
Joe was a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Beaver Dam. He served our country in the U.S. Army from 1946-1948, serving in Japan. Joe was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus. He managed the Hideaway from 1957-1959 and then the Columbus Country Club. Joe had also been a meat-cutter at Kroger’s, Shop-Rite and Piggly Wiggly. Following retirement, he had been a custodian at St. Patrick’s Catholic School. Joe enjoyed extensive traveling throughout the world with his wife Yvonne. Joe deeply loved his nieces and nephews.
Joe is survived by his wife Yvonne of Beaver Dam, sisters and brothers-in-law- Ladean (Kenneth) Pollesch of Markesan, Pearl (Calvin) Korth of Burnett, Joan Goodrich of Burnett, and Mary Goodrich Winter of Beaver Dam, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Florence Washtock Bykowski, his brothers: Joseph G. Novak and Norbert Novak, his sisters and brothers-in-law: Marge Novak, and Alice Ann and Merlin “Mert” Christian, Arthur Washtock, Ervin Bykowski, Calvin Goodrich, Victor “Butch” Goodrich.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Katharine Drexel Parish School or Parish.
The Koepsell-Murray Funeral and Cremation Services, N7199 N. Crystal Lake Rd., Beaver Dam is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.koepsellfh.com
