Verda Novak Obituary

INDEPENDENCE – Verda DOLORES Novak, 90, passed away surrounded by family, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines.
Visitation will be Sunday, August 31, 2025, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Reiff's Family Center in Independence. Funeral services will be Monday, September 1, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Brandon Area Community Center, 802 Main Street, Brandon, Iowa. Burial and meal to follow services.
Dolores was born on March 2, 1935 in Oelwein, Iowa, the 12th of 13 children of Jesse Marion and Effie Mae (Reed) Masters. She graduated from Oelwein High School in May of 1953. She was united in marriage to James William Newton on July 31, 1953. They later divorced. To this union seven children were born: James Jr., Lynn, Michael, David, Annette, Denise, and Andrew. In 1976, Dolores married Duane Robert Novak on August 21 at Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Duane's four children: Deborah, Cheryl, Carolyn, and Wayne, joined and they became a blended family. In 1978, Duane and Dolores had a daughter, Dawn.
Being a single mom to seven was a challenging life to say the least. Dolores was a great mom and opened her home to many children. She began working as a surveyor gathering information for the Civil Defense on bomb shelters. In 1965 Dolores began working at the Buchanan County Neighborhood Center which later became Operation Threshold where she served as the Director. Dolores was instrumental in starting the food pantry and operation Santa Claus in Buchanan County. Her career lasted 41 years until she retired in September 2006.
Dolores is survived by her children: Deborah (George) Smith, Coggon; Lynn (Lyle) Ries, Alta Vista; Cheryl (Rick) Wensel, Urbana; Michael (Pam) Newton, LaPorte City; Carolyn Wright, Marion; David Newton, McKinney, Texas; Annette (Ray) Sauer, Bondurant; Denise (Doug) Lehman, Rowley, Wayne (Susie) Novak, Central City, Andrew (Tiffany) Newton, Las Vegas, Nevada, Kelly (Lisa) Newton, Waverly, Dawn (Bill) Phillips, Independence, and a special daughter, Becky (Tom) Peterson, Bondurant, Iowa. She is also survived by one sister, Norma Lee (Roger) Van Haften, Chanhassen, Minnesota; Brother in laws: John (Lois) Novak, Cedar Rapids and Pete Novak, Central City; and Sisters in law: Alyce Masters, Elkhorn, Nebraska, Linda Masters, Wisconsin, Ruth (Jerry) Vaughn, Frankfort, Kansas, and Wendy (Eugene) Pierson, Meriden, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dolores was blessed with 38 Grandchildren and their spouses; 76 Great-grandchildren and spouses; and 16 Great-great grandchildren. Dolores loved her grandchildren, and she made every one of them feel like they were her "favorite."
Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Duane in 2007; a son, James William Newton, Jr.; Granddaughter, Monica Newton; Great grandsons: Owen Hinz, Ryker Hart, Alex Chamberlin, and Lucas Farmer; her eight brothers: Donnie (Dorothy), Glenn (Genny), Ralph, Delbert (Joan), Wayne (JoAnne), Jesse , Howard (Norma), and Raymond; three sisters: Velma (Izzy) Mervin, Florence (Vernon) Spece, and Dorothy (Robert) Olsen; Duane's siblings: Dorothy (Alciede) Johnson, Harold (Ruth) Novak, Cleo (Don) Hendry, and Betty (Don) Schumacher.
Memorials may be directed to Operation Santa Claus at Operation Threshold, Independence, the Independence Food Pantry, or the Brandon Methodist Church.
To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.