Janet Novak

Janet Novak, 79, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022, at the Ed & Joan Hemphill Hospice Unit at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Family will greet friends and family from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Central City, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 10, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church in Shellsburg, Iowa, officiated by Reverend Dr. Dean F. Rothchild, interim pastor. Burial will follow at Mt. Clark Cemetery in Central City. Janet was born on April 26, 1943, in Le Mars, Iowa, the daughter of Arthur and Charlene (Reinking) Berkenpas. She was a 1962 graduate of Martelle High School and went on to attend Kirkwood Community College and Realty School. On September 10, 1976, Janet was united in marriage to Lester “Pete� Novak at Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha, Iowa. She began her working career at Lefebure in Cedar Rapids. Janet and Pete co-owned and operated Jan’s Koffee Haus in Central City, and later the Prairie Moon Ballroom in Prairieburg. She was also a Real Estate Agent for RL Smith Realty. Janet was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Shellsburg, the Red Hat Society and Hobby Hens in Zapata, Texas, and was a past President of the Iowa Restaurant and Liquor Association. She loved cooking, crocheting, and quilting. Janet and Pete enjoyed wintering in Texas for nearly 20 years. She treasured spending time with her children and grandchildren. Janet will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Janet is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband, Lester “Pete� Novak of Cedar Rapids; son, Kyle Meyer of Center Point; daughter, Lois (John) Dougherty of Center Point; grandchildren, Alaina (Matt) Talley, Samantha VonSpreecken, Danielle (Dylan) Childs, Christina Meyer, and Austin Dougherty; one great-granddaughter due in July; step-sons, David Novak of Toddville, Iowa, Doug (Kelly) Novak of Winthrop, Iowa, Dan (Terri) Novak of Shellsburg, and Mark Novak (Heidi Clemens) of Palo, Iowa; several step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren; brother, Larry (Elaine) Berkenpas of Dixon, Illinois; sister, Karla (David) Greene of Chesterfield, Virginia; and niece, Tracy (Tony) Meza of Cedar Rapids. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Diane Bickal; and nephew, Greg McCleary. Memorials in Janet’s memory may be made to Camp Courageous at 12007 190th Street in Monticello, Iowa, 52310. Please share a memory of Janet at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.