Bruce Novak

Bruce Novak, age 74, of Odessa, MN, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at Appleton Area Health Care Center in Appleton, MN.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at Mundwiler and Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Rev. Nathaniel Brown will officiate the service and inurnment will take place at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Odessa, MN.

Bruce Allen Novak was born on April 27, 1948, in Ortonville, MN, to George and Virginia (Schulte) Novak. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran in Odessa, MN. He grew up in Odessa, MN.

After high school, Bruce attended college at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Granite Falls, MN, he then spent a year in California after graduation. He returned to Minnesota and married Brenda Dittes. He and Brenda moved to Marshall, MN, where he continued his education at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, and received his bachelor’s degree.

Bruce’s career as a truck dispatcher took him to Nebraska, Mississippi, New Mexico, Utah, Indiana and Wisconsin. He returned to Minnesota in the early 2000’s. After retiring from his career in dispatching, he returned to the Odessa area and worked as a Motel Manager in Appleton, MN. Bruce was a resident at the Appleton Area Health Care Center from July 2019 until his passing. He enjoyed a good game of cards, reading, playing softball and golf.

Bruce is survived by his mother, Virginia “Ginny” Novak of Ortonville, MN; daughter, Kristin (Kenneth) Bylsma of Lombard, IL; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Bylsma of Lombard, IL; sister, Jill (Robert) Mason of Eagle Lake, MN; niece, Amanda Hunt of Shakopee, MN; nephew, Alexander Hunt of Mankato, MN; and sister-in-law, Georgia Novak of Plainfield, IN.

He was preceded in death by his father, George Novak; and brothers: Kerry Novak and Scott Novak; and former wife, Brenda Novak (div.)