Roger Alan Novak

Roger was born in Kansas City, KS on August 8, 1946. He was the third son born of Fred and Marjorie (Alieksaites) Novak. He was proud of being raised on Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kansas – always embracing his neighborhood’s ethnic heritage and where he made life-long friends. We would humorously debate whether he was of Croatian or Slovenian decent (on his father’s side of the family), wherein Roger would insist that he was Croatian. (Not to be remiss, his maternal grandmother who lived next door to his parent’s home was of Lithuanian decent.) This is a prime example as those of you who knew Roger well will recognize how he loved to debate and try to “get your goat” as they say. He attended St. Anthony Grade School, then Ward High School his freshman and sophomore years, and graduated from Wyandotte High School.

He was a life-long Jayhawk fan, graduating from the University of Kansas in 1970, where he earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Administration. He began his public accounting career with the then named Big Eight firm of Ernst and Ernst in Kansas City. His mentors at Ernst and Ernst taught him well. They were tough but fair. Roger made the comment once that “public accounting wasn’t learned in the classroom but only from experience”. In 1977 he took a leap of faith, and along with an Ernst colleague, formed the accounting practice that would evolve to be currently known as Novak Birks, P.C.

Roger served on numerous professional, civic, and community boards throughout his lifetime. During the years that he and his family lived in Blue Springs, Missouri, Roger was elected to three terms as a City of Blue Springs Alderman (City Council). During his tenure, he served as Mayor Pro-Tem and served on the Blue Springs Economic Development Commission, as well as the Public Building Authorities. Professionally he previously served on the Peer Review Acceptance Committee of the Missouri Society of CPAs. In June 2005, he was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library Institute for National and International Affairs. Roger served for a total of nine years in various capacities as Director, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Budget Finance and Investment Committee, and member of the Executive Committee.

One of his most enjoyable philanthropic undertakings was to be a member of the Blue Springs Rotary Club and Paul Harris Fellow where he served as President 1985-1986…. Oh, the fun times and stories that could be told!!! “The willingness to give back by myself and my family has always been important to all of us.”

Roger was a social animal and loved to organize personal and/or client parties and events. He was a true Leo of the Zodiac, for sure. For relaxation and fun, Roger and Kay loved boating on Table Rock Lake during the summer and socializing with neighborhood friends at their lake home-away-from-home. In the most recent years, some of the best times were when grandsons, Wyatt and Walker, would bring friends to the lake and they would hangout on our “Ozark patio” (the driveway!) after a Grampy cookout. Later in life we cherished having the opportunity to travel to Europe quite a few times with treasured friends.

Roger leaves his spouse and soulmate of 58 years Kay (Galiger) Novak, son Keith (Christie) Novak, grandsons Wyatt Novak and Walker Novak. In addition, he leaves a niece Susan Novak Toussaint (Dave); three nephews Gregory Novak, Michael (Dr. Julie) Novak and Kevin (Dr. K.C.) Novak. He was preceded in death by son Jeffrey Dale Novak in 2017, his parents Marjorie and Fred Novak, and his two forever missed brothers Don Novak and Kenny Novak.

Life without you will never be the same. Your family, friends, clients, and others whose lives you have touched will miss your caring nature, generosity, dry wit, and quirky sense of humor. Hopefully, the big and small kindnesses that you exhibited toward people will be remembered. We love you. May you find your rest, Roger, you deserve it.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that you consider a donation to a charity of your choice…. or to the charities below that Roger embraced:

Safehome, PO Box 4563, Overland Park, KS 66204-0563

Urban Ranger Corps, 5908 Swope Pkwy., Kansas City, MO 64130

Upper Room, 300 E. 39th St., Ste. 2R, Kansas City, MO 64111

American Cancer Society, PO Box 419582, Kansas City, MO 64141-6582

There will be a celebration of Roger’s life on Friday, June 3, 2022, in the Wesley Chapel at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS; Visitation from 9:30-11:00 am; Memorial Service at 11:00 am.

The Celebration of Life will be streamed live June 3 at 11:00 am at COR.ORG/MEMORIALSONLINE