Donald J. Novak Died Dec. 26, 2016

Donald J. Novak

Died December 26, 2016

CEDAR – Donald J. Novak, 93, of Cedar, passed peacefully away on December 26, 2016 surrounded by his family at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City.

  Donald was born to Anna and Leo Novak of Cedar, on May 2, 1923.  He was the third of five children which include Alfred (Gertrude) Novak, Edna (Marvin) Ehlers, Marge (Bill) Howard and Ellen Novak.

  He graduated from Traverse City High School in 1940. He worked in Traverse City and Muskegon for a short time until he enlisted into the U.S. Army 8^th Air Corp in 1943.   He served in the European Theater from 1943 to 1945, trained as a demolitions expert and loaded bombs on fighter planes. He was stationed in England, Belgium, and France.

  After the war, Donald joined his brother Alfred as a home builder in the Washington D.C area where he lived for 23 years.

  He met and married his wife of 55 years Anita (nee) Ciamacco of Dunbar, Pennsylvania on January 21, 1961.  During this time, Don built over 100 homes with his brother Alfred and brother in law Gerald Fee, in the Maryland suburbs surrounding D.C.  Don and his brother Alfred also built the Carousel Hotel in 1962, one of the first hotels established in the seaside resort town of Ocean City, Maryland. 

  In 1969, Don moved his family to Northern Michigan, where he began his second career at the age of 47.  The career from builder to campground owner was realized when he developed property on Lake Leelanau, parcels that had been in his family for generations as well as additional land that he and his brother purchased in the late 40’s.

  Leelanau Pines Campground officially opened on July 3^rd, 1970 and is currently run by family today.  In addition to a thriving business, Don was active in his community, serving on the Cedar Chamber of Commerce, Glen Lake School Board and an original member of the Centerville Township Zoning Board.  

  Don’s love for family and the continued success of the campground was apparent to all who knew him. Although he was hobbled with arthritis and a degenerative bone disease, he was still an active partner as long as he had access to a golf cart, tractor, lawn mower or his car, which he was able to drive up until his recent illness. 

  In addition to the family that he loved, he enjoyed traveling and has been with his wife Anita to England, Europe, Caribbean, and all 50 states. In his later years, he continued to enjoy working his crossword puzzles, telling stories about the war days and army buddies and socializing with friends at the casino.

  Don is survived by his wife, Anita; three children, Carol (Tim), David (Konnie) and Linda (Nick); three grandchildren, Rhiannon Roberts, John and Matthew Dwyer; and several treasured nieces and nephews.  Don was especially close to his oldest nephew, Michael Taylor. 

  Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and sisters. 

  Visitation will be held Wednesday, Dec. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29 with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church of Isadore.  Burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery will be held in the spring.  Father Donald Libby will serve as celebrant.

  Memorials may be directed to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 1000; American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202; Cedar Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 74, Cedar, MI 49621 and/or to a charity of your choice.   

  Condolences may be shared with the Novak family below: