Thomas “Tom” Albert Novak, age 61, of Alma Center, passed away peacefully, surrounded by
family and close friends, on June 21, 2024, at Marshfield Medical Center. His battle with
Melanoma Cancer was over, and he was met by his Lord and Savior at the Pearly Gates.
Tom was born on May 6, 1963, in Neillsville. He was the third-born child of Rudolph and Dolores
(Mohr) Novak and spent his early years growing up near Bruce Mound. At the age of seven, he
lost his father to drowning. After a few years, jis mom remarried, and Tom traveled with the
blended family to the western states. He graduated from Selkirk High School at Ione, WA, in
1981.
After graduation, he joined the Marine Corp Reserves for 6 years. He was on active duty for the
first couple of years for boot camp and occupational training. After active duty, as a Reseverist,
Tom expanded on his military training and attended Spokane Technical College for Electronics
Technician 4.
Tom met Sarah Nesset of Portland, in Spokane, and they subsequently moved to DeForest, WI.
They were married there on August 29, 1987. They later resided in Alma Center and Tom was
employed by Ashley Furniture. By 1989, they had two children, and moved back to Ione, WA,
near his mom. Tom was employed by Vaagen Brothers and preformed a variety of tasks in a
large sawmill. When the mill closed down, Tom once again furthered his education by attending
ITT in Spokane for computer-aided design (CAD). He graduated from there with a 4.0 grade
point, and perfect attendance in spite of the 180-mile daily round-trip commute.
After that eight-year run in Washington state, they returned to Wisconsin and ended up
purchasing the old Francis Hart place at Alma Center. Tom worked at various jobs in the area,
including Walmart DC in Tomah, and D&S Mfg. in Black River Falls. For several years, Tom
owned a logging truck and hauled logs for many local loggers. He later owned an independent
over the road semi and did a variety of harvest truck driving for local farming operations.
Over the years Tom enjoyed working on nearly any sort of vehicle that had a motor. He could
talk about old Ford tractors for hours and had a variety of them around the place. Tom also
enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids, and sharing his mechanical knowledge with
them in hopes it would run off on them.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sarah, his daughters, Cassandra Novak, and children, Sarah, Kylie,
Taylor, and Atreus, Amanda (Nick) Forsting, and children, Jayden, Aaron, Hunter, and Nova; his
wife’s sisters, Sandra Nessett and Carla Ryan, and brother Danny Nesset, his Mom Dolores
and siblings, Barbara (Richard) Ofte, and his brother Robert “Bob”, his nieces and nephews,
Shauna (Mike) Spaulding, Darrek (Jennifer Wright) Novak, Darren (friend, Aurora Greer), Dustin
(Megan) Novak, Ryan Novak, and his Mom’s siblings, Harvey (Susanne) Mohr, Kenneth (Karen)
Mohr; Edna Klatt, David (Sherry) Mohr, Paul Mohr, Ruth (Bob) Schmidt and Lawrence Artac: his
step-siblings, Adam (Anita Baker) and Aaron (Salina) Kenyon and their families, and many
nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Rudolph, his aunts, Anna (Harry) Wroblewski, Lillian
(Milton) Kramer, Emily (Edward) Basara, his granddaughter Harley Forsting, his Uncle Anton
Novak; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Norman and Dorothy Nessett, brother-in-law, Allen
Nesset, his maternal grandparents Albert and Luella (Kopp) Mohr; his paternal grandparents
Thomas and Frances (Plonka) Novak; cousin, Howard Kramer: and Mom’s siblings, Lois and
Donald Mendenhall, Bruce Klatt, Marvin and Patricia Mohr, Allen Mohr, Nancy Mohr, Euncie
Artac; stepfather, Elliott Kenyon, brother-in-law Gary Holm. And sister-in-law Alishia Kenyon.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13, with Rev. John Cowles officiating, at
the Bridge Church (formerly Assembly of God) at 720 Alder St., Black River Falls. A visitation is
scheduled for 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the evening of July 12, at Torgerson’s Funeral Home, Black
River Falls, and one hour before the services at the church on Saturday. A lunch and visiting will
be held after the service at the church, for those that wish to attend.
The Torgerson’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements, 715-284-4321.
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