William "Bill" Novak

William 'Bill' Novak RACINE – William 'Bill' Novak, 57, died at home on Saturday, March 8, 2008. He was born in Racine on July 21, 1950, the son of James and Shirley (nee: Kvapil) Novak. On October 1, 1988, he married Kathryn (nee: Chobanian) Tomaloff. Bill graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1972. Bill worked at the family business, Novak Appliance, from 1975 until it closed in 1992. He joined his wife, Kathy as a licensed Realtor ® in 1993. Together, the team of Bill and Kathy Novak was affiliated with Prudential Heritage and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage before finding their home with the ERA Newport Realty Corporation family in March, 2002. Bill was a member of the National Association of Realtors®; the Wisconsin Realtors® Association; and the Racine Board of Realtors®, of which he served as president in 2007. He had served on the Metro Milwaukee MLS Board of Directors since 2001. As part of their real estate career, Bill and Kathy were members of the Racine BNI Pacesetters. Besides his passions for his family and work, Bill's other passion was music. He sang in the senior choir of his home church, Holy Communion Lutheran. He was a proud baritone and also an assistant director of the Racine Dairy Statesmen; sang with several barbershop quartets over the years; and won two international medals during his five years with the Midwest Vocal Express Men's a Cappella chorus of Greendale. Bill was a Renaissance man who indulged many interests and hobbies. Film, science fiction, computers, art deco, motorcycles, radio, travel, literature and recently, gardening around the new home he shared with Kathy. These joys he shared with his family, friends, and especially his children. His truly was a life well lived. In addition to his wife, Kathy, his survivors include his daughters, Amanda (Patrick) Troutman of Raleigh, N.C. and Shana M. Novak of Boston; stepsons, Michael (Amanda Below) Tomaloff of Madison and Christopher Tomaloff of Racine; grandchildren, Noah and Lilly Troutman; his parents, James and Shirley Novak of Racine; brothers, Alan (Connie) Novak and their children, Ian, Alex and Anna Novak, Brian (Julaine) Novak and Kevin (Cheryl) Novak and their children Nikolaus, Jessica, Zachary and Jacob Novak; Kathy's aunt, Harriet Rosinski, of Racine; as well as the many dear friends that Bill developed relationships with throughout the years. Bill will be especially missed by his beloved "boys," Spats and Zed. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Chuck and Gay Chobanian. A service celebrating Bill's life will be held at Holy Communion Lutheran Church (2000 W. 6th Street) on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Kathryn Brown officiating. There will be a visitation in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Tuesday evening, March 11, 2008, from 5 until 7 p.m. and again in the church on Wednesday from 10 until 11 a.m. Memorials have been suggested to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000 El Segundo, CA 90245); Holy Communion Capital Fund (2000 W. 6th St. Racine, WI 53405); Harmony Foundation (225 W. Washington Street, Suite 2330 Chicago, IL 60606); or Hospice Alliance (10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd. Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158). A very special thank you to Dr. Michael Mullane and his amazing staff at Oncology Alliance; Dr. Jennifer Brittig; Dr. Ted Cain; Hospice Alliance; and our ERA Newport family for the loving care and support that was provided over the last year. DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 4600 County Line Road (corner of KR & Meachem) 552-9000 www.draeger-langendorf.com