Novak, Peggy Marie (Ira) 1953 - 2024
NOVAK, IRA, CHARDOULIAS, MESSMORE, MCGREW, SMITH, KENNON, OMELIA, MORENO
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/13/2024 at 17:36:10
Peggy Marie (Ira) Novak died Aug. 30, 2024.
Peggy was born Sept. 9, 1953 to Charles and Dolores Ira. She attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic School through eighth grade and graduated from South Winneshiek High School in Calmar. She then attended the University of Northern Iowa where she received a Bachelor of Art Degree in Art Education. She taught art at Ft. Dodge, Tri-Center-Neola, WACO, East Central Schools and completed her teaching profession at Waterloo Schools in Family & Consumer Sciences at Central Middle School.
Peggy married Mark Chardoulias in 1976 and had two sons, Nicholas and Andrew. The couple later divorced. Peggy then reconnected with Larry Novak in September 2000; he became the love of her life and the pair married in May 2001.
Peggy was a professional artist, designing a rare and unique type of art using dye and wax called “batik”. She learned this medium when she was an undergraduate from Professor Gau at UNI. Over the years, Peggy perfected her art and attended many shows in the state. She loved flowers because of Georgia O’Keeffe, her favorite artist. Flowers became the subject of all her artwork. Today, her batiks adorn many homes across the United States.
In retirement, Peggy began doing alterations for a local bridal store but word got out and soon she was doing prom dresses and anything else people needed fixed.
Peggy enjoyed a lot of travel over the years. She visited Italy in 2016, Israel in 2017, New Zealand and Australia in 2018, Bahamas and Universal Studios 2019 and Mexico with special friend Danni in 2021. Peggy first visited Hawaii with Larry on their 10th Anniversary in 2011 and then again with sibling Rona on the occasion of their retirement in 2015. She also visited Alaska and went on a cross country trip from Iowa to Maine with cousin, Kathy.
In the last five years, Peggy took up camping with her family and visited the Ozarks, Warm Springs Ranch, Missouri, Elephant Rock State Park, Apostle Islands in Wisconsin, Glacier National Park, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, Red Lodge, Montana, Bear Tooth Highway, Big Horn Mountains, Sedona, Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Los Angeles area, and last September Peggy spent two glorious weeks with Rona and Tess in Utah visiting and hiking in five National Parks and eight State Parks. In addition, Peg spent many great nights and weekends with her family, camping, hiking, and kayaking at beautiful campgrounds in Iowa.
Peggy was an active member of Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls. She had a passion for helping people and bringing joy to their lives and was able to do this as a volunteer at LOVE Inc. for the past 11 years.
Even with her busy life, Peggy’s greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandkids, attending many of their ballgames and other life activities over the years. Some of her favorite activities with her grandkids included painting rocks, diamond art and other arts and crafts activities as well as overnight adventures with each grandchild. Her greatest blessings called her “mom” and “grandma”! Peggy will be greatly missed.
Peggy was preceded in death by her dear husband Larry Novak; father Charles Ira; and sister-in-law Jennifer Ira.
Peggy is survived by her mother, Dolores Ira of Spillville; siblings: Rona Ira-Messmore of Hudson, Iowa, Nancy (Steve) McGrew of Van Horne, Iowa, Cindy Ira-Smith (Galen Smith) of Worthington, Minnesota, Jeff Ira of New Hampton, Teresa (Jeff) Kennon of Lime Springs, and Terry (Amy) Ira of Iowa City; sons: Nicholas (Ashley) Chardoulias of Hudson, and Andrew (Whitney) Chardoulias of Cedar Falls; Novak children: Mindy O’Melia of Bettendorf, Nichole (Juan) Moreno of Moline, Illinois, Carrie Smith of Rock Island, Illinois, and Brad (Jennifer) Novak of Wheaton, Illinois; 19 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins; and her beautiful Yorkie Terrier, Georgia Mae.
Funeral services were held Sept. 6 at Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls. Visitation and graveside services followed at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery in Spillville.
Source: Decorah Newspapers Oct. 8, 2024
St. Wenceslaus Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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