Kathleen Novak

Kathy Novak, a much loved wife, daughter, mother, sister, aunt, friend, a devoted follower of her Christian faith and community servant passed to be with her savior on June 28, 2006.She died from head and neck injuries sustained in a one car accident on a gravel road near Martin, South Dakota on the evening of June 4. After initially being treated in Martin, Kathy was flown to Rapid City Regional Hospital. Due to the complexity of her injuries, on June 15, Kathy was transferred to Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN, where she was cared for until she suffered two fatal brain aneurysms on Wednesday morning.Visitation is scheduled for Sunday July 2 at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home.Funeral Services will be held at New Life Wesleyan Church at 10 am on Monday July 3 with Pastor Gordon Harper of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship officiating.Burial will follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Salvation Army of Gillette. Memorials and condolences can be sent in Kathy?s name in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th St. Gillette, WY 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonandsons.com.Kathy is survived by her husband John and mother Beverly Rowley both of Gillette, father Dale Ettle of Alliance, NE, son Denton Campbell and wife, Mikey, of Denver, CO, sisters June Wells and Diane Scott of both of Weatherford, TX. Other survivors include Aunts Sherrie Curtiss of Alliance and Linda BeiKathy was preceded in death by her brother Larry Lee Ettle, stepmother Margaret Cox Ettle, and stepfather Claude Rowley.Kathleen Susan Ettle was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota on April 3, 1951 to Dale Eugene Ettle and Beverly Ann (Forman) Ettle. Kathy moved with her family to Gillette as a young child and graduated from Campbell County High School. After receiving a Bachelors Degree in Communications from Black Hills State College in 1983, Kathy wrote for various newspapers including the Tucson Citizen and the L.A. Times.On August 17, 1984, Kathy had the joy of being joined in marriage to John Novak in Yuma, Arizona. The newlyweds moved to Gillette in 1984 and where Kathy worked as a reporter for the Gillette News Record for 5 years where she received numerous Wyoming Press Association Awards. After teaching for 5 years at Heritage Christian School, Kathy worked for the Homeless Shelter of Gillette. Kathy advanced to working for the Salvation Army of Gillette and was working as their Director at the time of her death. Kathy was devoted to her work and the causes of the Salvation Army. Her duties included fund raising events ranging from Bell Ringing at Christmas time, to writing grants, to performing a standup routine for the annual ?Chuckle for Charity? competition. Her work routinely consisted of assisting those in need within the community. In addition, Kathy and the Salvation Army provided relief for those affected by the Kaycee flood, the Wright Tornado, and Hurricane Katrina. Kathy was also a willing volunteer for other charitable causes in the community and was active in the pro-life movement. Amazingly, while still working at the Salvation Army, Kathy drove to Billings, MT each week for three years to spend 2 days working to earn her Masters Degree in Social Work from Walla Walla College, which she was awarded in August of 2005.Kathy devoted her working life to helping others and in her personal life was devoted to her friends and family. Kathy was a joyous member of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Gillette. Kathy enjoyed playing cards, camping, fishing, and doing ranching and cattle work with her husband John. Since she was born in 2002, one of Kathy?s great joys was to talk to, be with and play with her beloved granddaughter, ?Bo.?Those who knew Kathy understand that she was ?one of a kind.? She was lively, fun loving, hard working, faithful to her values and beliefs.She will be missed by her family and the community.