Daniel Joseph Novak

Daniel J. Novak, 78 years old unexpectedly passed away to the great sadness of his family and friends on July 25, 2024, at the Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Dan was born to Edward and Lillian Novak in Weyerhaeuser, WI on May 3, 1946.

He graduated from Weyerhaeuser High School in 1964. He met his future bride Diane Gunderman of Chetek, WI on a blind date when they were 15 and 16 years old. They were married for 58 years.

High school was for playing football, track and field, wrestling, working on the family farm, growing in love with Diane, dancehalls, pizza dates, driving his Vespa, and spending time with family and friends. Upon graduation, he was drafted for the U.S. Army where he was deployed to Aschaffenburg, Germany.  Diane and Dan married while he was on a quick leave from service, and she soon followed him to Germany to start their lives as newlyweds.

Upon discharge from the Army, Dan started his career in Metrology which led him to work in major companies such as Univac, Medtronic, Honeywell, and Deltec. His work on lifesaving health technology, especially the pacemaker, was of great pride.

Dan was a dedicated family man who raised his two children in Lino Lakes, MN. He was a man of great faith, a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, and active in his Roman Catholic Church community. He always had a home improvement project to work on, was a deer hunter, coached softball, loved to travel, polka dance, fish, take out the boat, and attend every and any event of his children and later his grandchildren. He was an extraordinary grandpa, father, husband, uncle and friend.

Knowing Dan meant you had a feeling that you were always welcome. His love of bringing people together and turning them into family was one of his greatest gifts. His dedication to his marriage and family is his legacy. He will be greatly missed and his loved ones will continue his legacy by carrying on his kindness and devotion to family and friends.

Daniel was preceded in death by his mother and father Edward and Lillian Novak, infant son Joseph, brother (Edward), sisters Elizabeth Mares, and Virginia Jaskowiak, brother in laws Stan Mares and Jim Jaskowiak.

He is survived by his wife Diane Novak, son Michael Novak of Roseville, MN, daughter Mary Novak (Lisa Nadeau) of Minneapolis, MN, grandchildren Amelia and Eliza Novak-Nadeau as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and other loving family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 30, 2024, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Chetek, Wisconsin at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service. Burial at Fort Snelling Cemetery with military honor guard at a later date.

The Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Chetek has been entrusted with the arrangements