James Novy
Edwardsville |
James “Jim” John Novy, 85, passed away with family at his side on June 16, 2025, at Addington Place of Edwardsville Memory Care in Edwardsville, Illinois.
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on December 18, 1939, to Milo Novy and Alma (Kohl) Novy, Jim was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend to everyone he encountered.
Growing up in Cedar Rapids, Jim was an active kid and natural athlete who excelled at every sport he tried. As a high school senior, he was a member of the inaugural Thomas Jefferson High School Class of 1958, serving as the Class President and notably scoring the historic first-ever J-Hawk football touchdown on a 26-yard fumble recovery! He was later honored as an inductee in the J-Hawk Athletic Hall of Fame.
At age 15, Jim started working as a meat cutter at Vorel's Meats, a neighborhood Cedar Rapids locker on 2nd Street, near Penick and Ford. Under the guidance of his friend and mentor, Chuck Vorel, Jim learned to love the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Countless hours were spent on the rivers and lakes in Iowa and Minnesota. His annual pilgrimage to Canada for a week of fishing and camaraderie with Chuck and friends was always a highlight!
Following a tour in the U.S. Army, Jim returned to Cedar Rapids and met his soulmate and future wife, Kathleen Niles. They married on May 16, 1964, the start to a 60-year love affair. Between work, acting in community theater productions, entertaining friends, and avidly attending Iowa Hawkeyes football games, he and Kathie started a family, welcoming their daughter, Mary, in 1968 and their son, Michael, in 1970.
After many years, Jim eventually took over as the owner and operator of Vorel's Meats, serving the Cedar Rapids community with a friendly smile and a strong work ethic. years. Jim’s blue Vorel’s Meats pickup truck delivered fine food to many local restaurants for over 30 years. After selling the meat locker in the late 1990’s, he finished his career at Reinhart Food Service, managing the produce section of the warehouse.
He introduced his love of the outdoors to his children with weekly Sunday picnics at Morgan Creek Park and annual family vacations to Lake Hubert and Spider Lake, Minnesota for fishing, swimming, playing games, and delicious walleye and bass fish frys. He constantly went above and beyond to provide for his family. During the long hours of deer season, he made sure that the little time he had not working was full of fun for Mary and Mike. Ice skating, sledding, scavenger hunts for gifts, and day trips ending with a nice warm fire in the fireplace were common events. When Mary and Mike grew older and moved away, Jim visited them regularly, offering his hand to help and show some tricks of the many trades he acquired growing up. Jim was the consummate family man, and when Mary and Michael married, he welcomed their spouses into the family with open arms.
Grandpa Novy loved being with his five grandsons. He delighted in teaching them how to fish and then frying up what they caught, as well as filling their bellies by grilling them some juicy BBQ ribs, cooking up a batch of his famous chili, or their favorite Czech goulash. Every time the grandsons visited, he made sure to measure their height to show them how big they were getting! Through his actions, Grandpa Novy showed the boys the value of hard work and how it shapes the person you become. He taught them all about sports, tried hard to convert them to become Iowa Hawkeye fans (with no luck!), and taught them to appreciate his favorite sport, golf! He was thrilled to visit them and cheer them on at the sporting events he was able to attend. When his great-grandsons Joey and Sammy visited, his face lit up with love and an ear-to-ear smile! He truly enjoyed their youthful energy and gave them his whole heart and all his affection in the time they spent together.
In his retirement, Jim was able to do the things he loved the most: tending to his lawn and plants, cooking, fishing, and golfing with his friends. There was hardly a day when he wasn't found somewhere on the greens in Eastern Iowa or on the Mississippi River in Guttenberg trolling for walleye south of the lock and dam. He lived each day to the fullest!
Jim’s hard-working, loyal, and softhearted nature was obvious not only to his family but to his friends and everyone he met. He provided for, showed up for, and sacrificed for his family. Jim believed that no matter what difficulties life throws at you, you’re the one who gets to decide where you go from there. We are blessed to have had him in our lives!
James was preceded in death by his beloved wife Kathleen (Kathie) Novy; his parents, Milo and Alma; brother Robert Novy; brothers-in-law William Gnagy; Reverend Father Thomas Williams, Anthony DeSousa, and Allen Conrad; and nephew Vincent Thomas. Surviving are his daughter Mary (Joseph Powell) Novy of St. Petersburg, Florida; son Michael (Julie) Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; grandchildren Christian (Hannah) Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; Andrew Novy of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Nicholas Novy, Joseph Novy, and Zachary Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; great-grandsons Joseph Novy and Samuel Novy of O’Fallon, Illinois; his sister, Maryann Gnagy and nephews John Gnagy and Jeff Gnagy of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; three nephews, and a niece.
Ardent Hospice and Palliative Care provided tireless and heartfelt love and care to both Jim and Kathie in their final days, as well as unwavering advocacy and emotional support for their family. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider a donation to their No One Should Die Alone Foundation at https://nosdaf.com/donate/. Please also consider participating in your local Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's to help raise awareness and combat this horrible disease.
A private ceremony and burial will follow at a later date.
Condolences, memories, and words of support may be offered to the Novy family at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O’Fallon, Ill., assisted the family.
Wolfersberger Funeral Home
