Rudolph F. "Rudy" Novak, age 86, of 9185 24th Road, Rapid River, MI (Ensign Area) died Thursday evening April 7, 2005 at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba following a lengthy illness.

Rudolph was born December 24, 1918 in Madison, IL the son of James and Amelia (Stemack) Novak. Their family moved to the Ensign area in 1932 when Rudy was 13 years old and he attended the Alton School in Ensign. Rudy was united in marriage to the former Gladys Erickson on June 14, 1947 at the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone. They made their home on the family farm in Ensign of which Rudy eventually took over the farm from his father. He farmed the land until 1985 when he retired from farming. He went on to work for several years for the U.S. Forest Service with the Older Americans Program.

Rudy was active in the community serving on the Ensign Twp. Board and the A.S.C. Board for several years. He was a charter member of the Ensign Fire Department and a member of the Soil Conservation Association. Rudy had many hobbies which included working the work bees at the Ensign Fire Department. He was an avid reader of books, especially history books. He loved polka dancing and woodworking, making wooden ringer washers and shoe saver canes. Rudy had a great sense of humor and loved telling and listening to jokes or a good B.S. story. In his younger years he enjoyed riding snowmobiles and later in life he liked to check the fence line on his four-wheeler. He loved attending auctions and watching the R.F.D. show on T.V. He also enjoyed following and watching the Rapid River Boys & Girls Basketball Teams. But his pride and joy was spending time with his 2 grandsons, Garrett and Corey.

In addition to his wife of 57 years Gladys, survivors include:

One daughter, Jean (John) Norden of Rock

One son, Alan (Carol) Novak of Rapid River

Two grandsons: Garrett and Corey Novak of Rapid River

Numerous nieces and nephews

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: Son: David in 1977; Brother: Victor

Rudy's family will receive friends on Monday from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Rudolph Novak will follow at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home with Rev. Stephen Gauger of Calvary Lutheran Church officiating. Luncheon will follow at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid River. Burial will be in Rapid River Cemetery in Rapid River.