Raymond Novak

FUNERAL SERVICES :VISITATION : 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN; with a prayer service at 6:45 pm with Father Thomas Friedl officiating.INTERMENT : Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.SURVIVORS : His sons, Larry (Zelda) Novak of Park Rapids, MN and Ronald (Bonnie) Novak of Fargo, ND; four grandchildren, John (Heather) Novak of New Prague, MN, David (Elizabeth) Novak of Crofton, MD, Angela (Chad) Pederson of Minneapolis, MN, Michael (Kalli) of Minneapolis, MN; four great grandchildren, Erik, Anna, Alexis, and Madison; as well as numerous step grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many special friends. RAYMOND JOSEPH "RAY" NOVAKJuly 21, 1910 ~ October 21, 2010 Raymond Joseph "Ray" Novak was born on July 21, 1910 in Cummings, North Dakota to Joseph and Anna (Cecka) Novak. As a small boy, he moved with his family to Thief River Falls, MN where he attended Catholic Parochial school through the 8th grade. He went on to attend Thief River Falls Public High School from which he graduated with the class of 1930. He went on to attend Moorhead State Teachers College. As a young man, he taught school throughout North Dakota and South Dakota. In the early 1940"s Ray moved to Richfield, MN where he taught high school English and Literature. On October 20, 1943, Ray entered the United States Army where he proudly served in the European Theatre of war on the front lines of combat as an infantry man in the 22nd Infantry 4th Division. He participated in the Normandy and Berlin invasions, receiving the Purple Heart from injuries sustained in the Battle of the Bulge. On September 26, 1946, Ray was united in marriage to Genevieve Emma Risula in Webster, SD. This union blessed them with two sons: Larry and Ron. Upon his honorable discharge on December 18, 1945, Ray gained employment with the Veterans Administration as a training officer to help returning G.I."s assimilate back into civilian life. Later he worked as a finance clerk at Ft. Snelling. The young family made their home in the Twin Cities area. After 10 years with the Veterans Administration he resumed his career in education. He taught at De La Salle High School where he taught English, Literature, and History. He furthered his own education by attending night school at the University of Minnesota, eventually earning his Masters Degree. In 1958, he gained employment with Blaine Public School where he served as an elementary principal. In 1963, he was named principal of the Woodcrest Elementary School in Spring Lake Park where he served until his retirement in 1975. Following his retirement, Ray continued his involvement in public education by serving as a substitute teacher in the Robbinsdale School District. His life was saddened by the death of his beloved wife Jenny on October 15, 1983. For a few years, Ray made his home in Lakefield, MN where he lived near his son for a time and then moved to Fargo, ND for two years to live near his son, Ron before moving back to Lakefield and Redwood Falls, MN and finally to Park Rapids, MN in 1994 to be closer to his son, Larry. Ray was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church, the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212, and the Disabled American Veterans. Over his lifetime, Ray wrote several fictional novels which were published dealing with life on the Prairie and his combat military experiences in the World War II. He was a voracious reader and enjoyed the outdoors. He will be lovingly remembered by two sons, Larry (Zelda) Novak of Park Rapids, MN and Ronald (Bonnie) Novak of Fargo, ND; four grandchildren, John (Heather) Novak of New Prague, MN, David (Elizabeth) Novak of Crofton, MD, Angela (Chad) Pederson of Minneapolis, MN, Michael (Kalli) of Minneapolis, MN; four great grandchildren, Erik, Anna, Alexis, and Madison; as well as numerous step grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many special friends. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jenny; one brother, Maurice; and his four sisters, Amy, Berdie, Edna, and Edith. A visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:45 P.M. with Father Thomas Friedl officiating. Casketbearers will be John and Heather Novak, David and Elizabeth Novak, Angela and Chad Pederson and Mike and Kalli Novak. Honorary Casketbearers will be the Otto Hendrickson American post #212 of Park Rapids. Interment will be made in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.