THOMAS “TOM” ALBERT NOVAK
THOMAS “TOM” ALBERT NOVAK
Thomas “Tom” Albert Novak, 61, of Alma Center, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and close friends June 21, 2024, at Marshfield Medical Center. His battle with melanoma cancer was over, and he was met by his Lord and Savior at the Pearly Gates.
Tom was born May 6, 1963, in Neillsville. He was the third-born child of Rudolph and Dolores (Mohr) Novak and spent his early years growing up near Bruce Mound. At the age of seven, he lost his father to drowning. After a few years, his mom remarried, and Tom traveled with the blended family to the western states. He graduated from Selkirk High School at Ione, WA, in 1981.
After graduation, he joined the Marine Corp Reserves for six years. He was on active duty for the first couple of years for boot camp and occupational training. After active duty, as a reservist, Tom expanded on his military training and attended Spokane Technical College for electronics technician 4.
Tom met Sarah Nesset of Portland, in Spokane, and they subsequently moved to DeForest, WI. They were married there Aug. 29, 1987. They later resided in Alma Center, and Tom was employed by Ashley Furniture. By 1989, they had two children and moved back to Ione, WA, near his mom. Tom was employed by Vaagen Brothers and preformed a variety of tasks in a large sawmill. When the mill closed down, Tom once again furthered his education by attending ITT in Spokane for computer-aided design (CAD). He graduated from there with a 4.0 grade point and perfect attendance in spite of the 180-mile daily round-trip commute.
After that eight-year run in Washington state, they returned to Wisconsin and ended up purchasing the old Francis Hart place at Alma Center. Tom worked at various jobs in the area, including Walmart DC in Tomah and D&S Mfg. in Black River Falls. For several years, Tom owned a logging truck and hauled logs for many local loggers. He later owned an independent over-the-road semi and did a variety of harvest truck driving for local farming operations.
Over the years Tom enjoyed working on nearly any sort of vehicle that had a motor. He could talk about old Ford tractors for hours and had a variety of them around the place. Tom also enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids and sharing his mechanical knowledge with them in hopes it would rub off on them.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sarah; his daughters, Cassandra Novak and children Sarah, Kylie, Taylor, and Atreus, Amanda (Nick) Forsting and children Jayden, Aaron, Hunter and Nova; his wife’s sisters, Sandra Nessett and Carla Ryan and brother Danny Nesset; his mom Dolores; and siblings Barbara (Richard) Ofte, and his brother Robert “Bob”; his nieces and nephews Shauna (Mike) Spaulding, Darrek (Jennifer Wright) Novak, Darren (friend Aurora Greer), Dustin (Megan) Novak and Ryan Novak; and his mom’s siblings, Harvey (Susanne) Mohr, Kenneth (Karen) Mohr, Edna Klatt, David (Sherry) Mohr, Paul Mohr, Ruth (Bob) Schmidt and Lawrence Artac; his step-siblings, Adam (Anita Baker) and Aaron (Salina) Kenyon and their families; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rudolph; his aunts, Anna (Harry) Wroblewski, Lillian (Milton) Kramer and Emily (Edward) Basara; his granddaughter, Harley Forsting; his uncle, Anton Novak; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Dorothy Nessett; brother-in-law Allen Nesset, his maternal grandparents, Albert and Luella (Kopp) Mohr; his paternal grandparents Thomas and Frances (Plonka) Novak; cousin Howard Kramer; and mom’s siblings, Lois and Donald Mendenhall, Bruce Klatt, Marvin and Patricia Mohr, Allen Mohr, Nancy Mohr, Euncie Artac; stepfather Elliott Kenyon; brother-in-law Gary Holm; and sister-in-law Alishia Kenyon.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, with Rev. John Cowles officiating at the Bridge Church (formerly Assembly of God) at 720 Alder St., Black River Falls. A visitation is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. the evening of July 12 at Torgerson’s Funeral Home, Black River Falls and one hour before the services at the church Saturday. A lunch and visiting will be held after the service at the church for those that wish to attend.
The Torgerson’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, 715-284-4321.