Verda Dolores Novak

Verda Dolores Novak

Independence

Verda Dolores Novak, 90, passed away surrounded by family, on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at lowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines. Visitation will be Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Reiff’s Family Center in Independence, 3-7 pm. Funeral services will be Monday, September 1, 2025 at 11 am at the Brandon Area Community Center, 802 Main Street, Brandon, lowa. Burial and meal to follow services.

Dolores was born on March 2, 1935 in Oelwein, lowa, the 12th of 13 children of Jesse Marion and Effie Mae (Reed) Masters. She graduated from Oelwein High School in May of 1953. She was united in marriage to James William Newton on July 31, 1953. They later divorced. To this union seven children were born; James Jr., Lynn, Michael, David, Annette, Denise and Andrew. In 1976, Dolores married Duane Robert Novak on August 21st at Little Brown Church in Nashua, lowa. Duane’s four children; Deborah, Cheryl, Carolyn and Wayne, joined and they became a blended family. In 1978, Duane and Dolores had a daughter, Dawn.

Being a single mom to seven was a challenging life to say the least. Dolores was a great mom and opened her home to many children. She began working as a surveyor gathering information for the Civil Defense on bomb shelters. 1965 Dolores began working at the Buchanan County Neighborhood Center which later became Operation Threshold where she served as the Director. Dolores was instrumental in starting the food pantry and operation Santa Claus in Buchanan County. Her career lasted 41 years until she retired in September 2006.

Dolores is survived by her children, Deborah (George) Smith, Coggon; Lynn (Lyle) Ries, Alta Vista; Cheryl (Rick) Wensel, Urbana; Michael (Pam) Newton, LaPorte City; Carolyn Wright, Marion; David Newton, McKinney, Texas; Annette (Ray) Sauer, Bondurant; Denise (Doug) Lehman, Rowley, Wayne (Susie) Novak, Central City; Andrew (Tiffany) Newton, Las Vegas, Nevada; Kelly (Lisa) Newton, Waverly; Dawn (Bill) Phillips, Independence and a special daughter, Becky (Tom) Peterson, Bondurant, lowa. One sister, Norma Lee (Roger) Van Haften, Chanhassen, Minnesota; brothers-in-law, John (Lois) Novak, Cedar Rapids, Pete Novak, Central City, and sisters-in-law, Alyce Masters, Elkhorn, Nebraska; Linda Masters, Wisconsin; Ruth (Jerry) Vaughn, Frankfort, Kansas; Wendy (Eugene) Pierson, Meriden, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dolores was blessed with 38 grandchildren and their spouses, 76 great-grandchildren and spouses; and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Dolores loved her grandchildren and she made everyone of them feel like they were her “favorite”.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Duane in 2007; son, James William Newton, Jr.; granddaughter, Monica Newton; great-grandsons, Owen Hinz, Ryker Hart, Alex Chamberlin, Lucas Farmer; her 8 brothers, Donnie (Dorothy), Glenn (Genny), Ralph, Delbert (Joan), Wayne (JoAnne), Jesse, Howard (Norma) and Raymond; 3 sisters, Velma (Izzy) Mervin, Florence (Vernon) Spece and Dorothy (Robert) Olsen; Duane’s siblings Dorothy (Alciede) Johnson, Harold (Ruth) Novak, Cleo (Don)Hendry, Betty (Don) Schumacher.

Memorials may be directed to Operation Santa Claus at Operation Threshold, Independence, the Independence Food Pantry or the Brandon Methodist Church.

To leave an online condolence please go to www.reifffamilycenter.com under obituaries.