James Novak, Sr., 81 of Fort Calhoun, NE, passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern, IA. Burial will be in the Malvern Cemetery. Visitation at the funeral home will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern is caring for James and his family.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials in James's honor are to St. Jude Children's Hospital (www.stjude.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).



James Edward Novak, Sr, 81 of Fort Calhoun, NE, passed away August 14, 2022.

Jim, was born on December 22, 1940 in Omaha, NE, the oldest of three sons of Mildred Caroline (Hearn) and Stanley Novak, Sr, He grew up in Omaha, graduating from Tech High School in 1959. Jim served in the United States Navy. Following his honorable discharge, he drove truck for Ross Transfer for 29 years and then worked at Airlite Plastics for 10 years until his retirement.

Jim and Dianna Kay (Irvin) Dirkse were married on December 17, 1977 at the Westside Baptist Church in Omaha. They made their home in Omaha and his family grew to include Dianna's sons, Jeffrey and Dennis.

Jim was a member of Judson Baptist Church in La Vista, NE. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and bowling.

Jim and Dianna had been married 29 years when Dianna died of cancer on January 17, 2007 at the home of her son, Jeff, in Omaha. Jim continued to make his home in Omaha until moving in October 2013 to Fort Calhoun, NE to live with his daughter Jamie.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; wife Dianna Novak; sons, James Edward Novak Jr and wife Cindy, Scott Patrick Novak and Scott Joseph Novak; and brother-in-law Robert Irvin.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Jamie Tietz and husband Eugene of Fort Calhoun, NE; stepsons, Jeffrey Dirkse and wife Sonja of Omaha, and Dennis Dirkse and wife Tammy of Pueblo West, CO; daughter-in-law Paula Novak of Omaha; 11 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; brothers, Bill Novak and wife Karen of Omaha, and Stanley Novak, Jr. of Omaha; brother-in-law, Lowell Dean Irvin and wife Jolene of Fremont, NE; sister-in-law Janice Irvin of Riverside, CA; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.