Joseph Novak

Joe was born on January 10, 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Christina Kral Novak and Joseph John Novak. He had a brother Milton John and a sister Jeanne Teresa. He attended Catholic parochial schools and graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mining Engineering in 1940. Joe served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee (Construction Battalion) during World War II. He met his wife, Elizabeth Shoaf, a Navy Lieutenant, while he was being decommissioned, and they were married in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 29, 1946. After a honeymoon in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota where they canoed and camped, they began their married life in Hibbing, Minnesota. They briefly returned to New Orleans for the birth of their first child, Steven, spent seven years in Dallas, Texas, and then settled in Denver. Joe and Elizabeth had three children, Steven Joseph, born in 1947, Rebecca Ann, born in 1949, and Patricia Ann, born in 1951, all of whom had happy marriages and careers. Joe worked as a mining and civil engineer for Stearns-Rogers Manufacturing in Denver until he retired in 1982. He enjoyed gardening, spending time with his grandchildren, and studying the Czech language and his Czech genealogy. He took three trips to Czechoslovakia to research his ancestors. He was a member of the Mile High Czech Club. Joe was pre-deceased by his wife Elizabeth, and his brother and sister. Joe is survived by his three children Steven, Becky (Bill) Kast, and Patty (Bob) Meyers. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jenny Novak, David, Stephen and Patrick Kast, Suzanne Scott, and Erin and Catherine Meyers, eight great-grandchildren, and six nephews. Joe died April 28, 2014 at the age of 96, at Serenity House in Centennial, Colorado. He kept his optimistic spirit, his clear, problem-solving mind, and his zest for life until the very end. Joe’s quotable quotes: “Hang in there!” and “Life is so interesting!”