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Novak, Michael D.
Michael D. Novak, 67, of Marion, died Friday, Aug. 8, 2013, at the Hiawatha Care Center after a long illness. Private inurnment: Cedar Memorial Park Mausoleum, Cedar Rapids. A visitation will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids; a rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m., with words about Mike to be said thereafter.
Survivors include a daughter, Heather Larson of Cedar Rapids; two sons, Matthew (Jessica) Novak of Chicago and Anthony (Staci) Novak of Marion; five grandchildren, Logan, Michael, Mya, Anora and Rosemary; and his siblings, Thomas (Betty) Novak of Marion, and Mary Kay (Patrick) McGrath, Janet (Thomas) Kleopfer, James (Susan) Novak and Dennis Novak, all of Cedar Rapids. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles, Richard (Dawn) Novak and Dorothy (Robert) Gaines.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Mary Ellen (Davenport) Novak.
Mike was born Jan. 17, 1946, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Frank and Eileen (Krumm) Novak. He married Mary Ellen Davenport on Jan. 5, 1974, at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Mike worked at the Quaker Oats Co. in Cedar Rapids and later at Ralston Foods as a materials buyer, retiring in 2012.
Mike loved all things baseball and devoted much of his time and energy to this passion. He served on the board of directors of the Cedar Rapids Ball Club for many years, and on most summer nights he could be found roaming the concourses of Veterans Memorial Stadium. He was inducted into the Cedar Rapids Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. He was one of the founders of the Cedar Rapids (Little) Reds youth baseball club and spent many summers traveling to baseball tournaments with his family. Mike also served on the Quaker Oats Credit Union board of directors. The oldest of six children, Mike loved spending time with his family any chance he could get, from weekly breakfast get-togethers to vacations in Florida and beyond.
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Published Aug. 11, 2013 in The Gazette
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