Tony (Anton) Walter Novobielski was born on April 10, 1927 at home on the farm near Thorp, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Mary Novobielski. He was the 11th child in a family of 13. Tony received his elementary education in a one-room school that was two miles from their dairy farm. Afterward he attended a trade school in O’Claire to learn sheet metal fabrication.
Tony moved to Washington state when he was 17, following the lead of his older brothers, and settled in the Selah/Yakima area. Soon afterward, he sent $80 for his younger sister, Rose, to come out west and then his parents and youngest sister, Josie joined them. Many years later, his brother Bernie moved his family to Yakima. At the age of 20, he opened his own restaurant and operated it for 6 years. Tony met Charlotte Remley in Yakima while she was completing her degree at WSU and they were married in 1950. He traveled around the state to sell specialty foods for Magnano & Sons, to grocery stores while Charlotte taught high school. They had four children: Karen Kivett (Bill), Judy Novobielski-Muhs (Fred), Roger Novobielski (Darlene) and Nancy Novobielski Campbell.
Tony started his career in real estate in 1963, first as a salesman with Associated Realtors and over the years of work and study, he acquired his brokers’ license and opened the House of Real Estate, in 1976, with Charlotte as his office manager. He was deeply devoted to helping people throughout the Yakima Valley find or build the homes of their dreams. Tony spent most of his spare time customizing the home where he and Charlotte raised their family, building cabinets and other furniture and remodeling rental properties. He loved to teach others his craft, specifically his son, Roger and grandson, Ryan, and had a fully functioning woodworking shop in his garage.
Tony and Charlotte owned and traveled in 3 motor homes over the years, to visit relatives and friends. They were able to visit all 50 of the United States together, as well as the Panama Canal and England. Tony was always ready to load up everyone who wanted to join them in their travels, whether it was 40 miles to the lower valley or 600 to Yellowstone National Park. Wherever they visited, the relatives seemed to have remodeling and building projects ready for Tony to complete!
Tony was always prepared for having fun with his children, nieces, nephews and neighborhood children. Early on he was painting details on the stagecoach he built for the wagon, and later he was designing a “bike-ski” he could pull behind the family boat. He loved to waterski, pursue his artistic talent in oil painting, taught the kids how to dig clams and climbed Mt. Adams with Karen and her friends. Tony always seemed to be the best clown in photographs. His middle name should have been “fun!”
Tony was preceded in death by his parents, many siblings and his wife, Charlotte. He is survived by siblings Bernie Novobielski, Rose Rosenberger, Josephine Cox and all 4 of his children. He also had 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home on Thursday, November 1, 2018 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home on Friday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m. Concluding services with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lepfuneralhome.com.
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