Marlene Novak

Marlene Rae Novak (Wanhala) passed away Saturday November 28th at the age of 73.

  She was born on April 11th, 1947 in Duluth, MN to Eino and Doris Wanhala. She grew up and attended school in Hibbing MN, graduating in 1965. After graduation she travelled a bit, living in both CA and Chicago where in 1977 she married William F. “Bill” Novak.  In 1981 they moved back to Hibbing where she worked at the Golden Crest Nursing Home. In 1997 she moved to Brownton MN to be closer to family. While living there she worked at HTI, Cashwise and GRHS until her retirement. In 2019 she moved with her daughter out to SD where she lived for a short time in Brandt before becoming a resident at Avantara Lake Norden where she resided until her death.

  When not working, she was a bit of a homebody, enjoying spending time with her family and going on adventures with her grandkids. She also enjoyed puzzle books and made it her mission to watch every disaster movie ever made, preferably while eating pizza.

  She is survived by her daughter Tina Durbin (Tom Milan) of Brandt SD, her son Kevin Povick of Colorado Springs CO, her sisters Kathy (Larry) Hall of Eveleth MN, Bev (Rod) Baraga of Baxter MN, Lori (Vince) Novak of Corcoran MN and Donna (Tom) Damjanovich of Nashwauk MN, her grandchildren Spencer (Whitney) Durbin, Samantha Durbin (Freddy Blaser) , Tyler (Alyson) Durbin, Dallas Durbin, Conor Durbin and Alekzandar Povick,  great-grandchildren Kiara, Avery, Nicolai, Oliver and Henry, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, granddaughter Morgan Marie Povick, son-in-law Gerald Durbin and the father of her children Ronald Povick.

  Johnson and Henry Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. A family service is being planned for next spring.