Kenneth "Ken" F. Novak

Ken Novak passed peacefully on September 11, 2023, at Gunderson Lutheran. He was born August 21,1942, in Berwyn, IL. He is survived by his wife Wanda Jeanne, sons Ken Novak and Mark (Tiffany) Novak. He is survived by his beloved grandchildren, Justin Novak and Jordin Novak. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Emily Novak, and brother, Roy.

Most importantly, Ken loved his family. His wife, Jeanne, was the light of his life and his true soul mate. Together since high school and married for 60 years, the pair were rarely apart, especially in retirement. Ken enjoyed his days with Jeanne and loved the slow pace and freedom of retired life. He and Jeanne understood one another on a level most of us could only hope to find with another soul in our lifetime. He loved to talk to his sons, Kenny, and Mark. Justin and Jordin, his grandchildren, were the apple of his eye and he was eager to share pictures and stories about them.

Ken was a man who put passion into everything he did and had a tremendous drive and determination. Through hard work, he graduated from the University of St Thomas. He thoroughly enjoyed his job as a Sales Manager for several different food companies over his lifetime and often spoke of the many fun dinners and trade shows he attended with Jeanne at his side.  Ken knew everyone - and always remembered their names and details about them, down to their likes and dislikes. Even though they relocated several times for work, Ken was never a stranger in a new city. He quickly made friends through his relatable personality and captivating stories. Ken always had a story and used them to connect with anyone in the room on a personal level, always finding a commonality and talking point.

He and Jeanne loved to travel and visited more countries than most people can dream of. If you were traveling somewhere, chances are good that Ken and Jeanne had been there and could provide you with the “ins and outs” of the city along with restaurants to visit and landmarks to see. He had a special place in his heart for Maui, Maui was Ken’s “happy place”. He enjoyed spending winters there and connecting with his many Canadian friends. He would connect with local people through his love of hockey, the Chicago Blackhawks in particular, and frequently wore a Blackhawks hat, which prompted many a conversation with a stranger. He loved to sit on the deck and in the sun and pass the time with Jeanne while watching the hummingbirds. He truly loved his life and lived it to the fullest.

While Ken was met with several health battles throughout his lifetime, he always persevered without complaint, determined to stay strong for his family and loved ones. His warm smile and fascinating stories will certainly be missed, but never forgotten.

A Celebration of Ken’s Life will be held from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 907 Sand Lake Rd., Onalaska, WI 54601.