BONNIE NOVAK

Funeral Service Mass for Bonnie May (Robbennolt) Novak, age 96, of Wagner will be held Friday, August 8 at 10 a.m., at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial is in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday, August 7th from 5:30-7 p.m., followed by a Rosary/Wake Service at 7 p.m. Peters Funeral Home in Wagner is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations will be directed to the Wagner Food Pantry and the ROCS office-Meals on Wheels.

Bonnie Novak beloved wife, mom, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend passed away on Monday, July 28th.

Bonnie May Robbennolt was born on March 9th, 1929 in Delmont to Art and Dora (Halter) Robbennolt. Bonnie was a graduate of Delmont High School and attended cosmetology school in Sioux City, Iowa.

A cute sailor caught Bonnie’s eye and on September 17th, 1952 Bonnie married Don Novak at St. John’s Catholic Church in Wagner. Don and Bonnie were married for over 66 years and they raised their five children together in Wagner.

Bonnie worked as a beautician for Juanita Wilson (Wilson’s Beauty and Barber Shop) for many years. Once the twins were born, Bonnie was a stay at home mom and then worked as a teacher’s aide at the Wagner Community School. In her spare time, Bonnie was a member of the Red Hat Society, the Wagner Community Club, the Hospital Auxillary and volunteered to do hair at the Good Samaritan Center in Wagner. Bonnie and Don also volunteered for the local Meals on Wheels and were members of the VFW.

Bonnie was an active member of St. John’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters (of which she once was the grand regent), and Junior Catholic Daughter leader. Bonnie was on the October band of the Altar Society and sang in the church choir.

Bonnie showed her love to her family with her cooking and sewing skills. You always knew it would be a treat to come home to Bonnie’s cooking! To this day her chocolate cake recipe is a secret shared only with her direct descendants (and their spouses)! Bonnie also sewed many outfits as her children and grandchildren were growing up. She was diligent about sending cards and hand written notes of congratulations and encouragement. A great love of her life was dancing. A nice two stepping song would come on and she would be doing jig in the kitchen. She loved dancing with Don and had some success teaching her children to dance.

Thankful for having shared her life are her five children: Mike (Jan) Colona, Illinois, Norena, St. Paul, MN, Pat (Sharie) New Ulm, MN, Melanie, Wagner, Marilyn (Brian) Earley Livermore, California; grandchildren: Angela Jensen, Ryan (Haley) Novak, Tom (Mary) Novak, Dan (Amber) Novak, Erica (Kevin) Wenig, Jessica (Paul) Huntoon, Mike Collins and Mark Collins; great grandchildren: Ella Jensen, Abbigail Jensen, Rhett Novak, Wesley Novak, Calvin Novak, Abby, Karli, and Lexi, Brody Wenig, Carter Wenig, Flynn Huntoon, Paul Huntoon Jr., and Michelle Huntoon; brother-in-law Ed Novak (Joan); nephew Jim (Patty) Novak; and many other nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband Don, her parents and her six siblings: Georgia Graves, Bernice Schroeder, Clifford Robbennolt, Joseph Robbennolt, Robert Robbennolt and Clarice Williams; and inlaws Sylvia Foster, Betty Christensen and Arlene Siebrand.

Bonnie loved the culture and community in which she lived her life. People helping people!

She lived a full and blessed life with much joy. Blessed by her memory.