William I. Novak

Funeral Mass for William I. "Bill" Novak, 84, of Gilbert, will be 11am Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Frank Perkovich as celebrant. Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass at the church. Burial will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. William died Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Essentia Health - Duluth. He was born October 28, 1928 in Virginia, MN to Frank and Rose (Skrabec) Novak. William attended Marquette and Virginia schools prior to being drafted to the US Army. Following his military service, he worked for CJ Anderson in Chicago as a machinist. He returned to Gilbert and married Mary Ann Plesha on July 16, 1955, enjoying 57 wonderful years together. He worked for J&L Mining and retired from LTV Steel as a truck driver and foreman. While at LTV, he co-owned and operated Novak's Mileage Station in Virginia. His wife, children, grandchildren and extended family were his pride and joy. William was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church serving as trustee, he was a Gilbert School Board member for 12 years and enjoyed lobbying for education in St. Paul. He was a lay board member of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. He also served on the Range League of Municipalities Board, served as a Lobbyist for the Gilbert Schools and enjoyed being active in politics. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann; daughters: Susan of Gilbert; Patty (Joe) Skofich of Gilbert and their children, Kristin (Drew) Hayes and Jennifer (Paul) Jacobson; Kathy (Wade) Olson of Gilbert and their children, Breanna and William; Mary (Steve) Kramar of Champlin and their children, Jacob (Shelly), Jessica and Matthew; Carrie (Kyle) Rahikainen of Britt and their children, Katelin, Bradley and Alex; sisters: Sister Mary Hope Novak, OSB of St. Scholastica Monestary and Bertha Wright of La Mesa, CA; brother, Daniel Novak of Virginia; sisters-in-law: Mary Novak of Gilbert and Frances Ryczek of Lansing, Ill; many nieces and nephews who were an important part of his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Rose; sisters: Rose Klima, Anne Wright and Mary Novak; brothers: Frank, Vincent, John and Joe Novak.