Keith Robert Novak's Obituary
Keith Robert Novak, a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, and son, surrendered to his 6-year battle with Kidney Cancer and passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on October 5th, 2023.
Keith was born on October 26th, 1963, in St. Albans, Vermont to Robert Eugene Novak and Elizabeth Lucille Novak, and was the younger brother of Kimberly Ann Novak. He was diagnosed with a high-risk childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma within his first year of life. Keith’s prognosis was grim because childhood cancer was not well understood in the 60’s and treatment options were limited. It was during that time his mother, Elizabeth (Betty) made a covenant with the Lord that if Keith were healed and given a full life, she would follow the Lord as a devout Catholic for the remainder of her life. The Lord knew Keith was destined to be a legend in his lifetime, so God accepted the deal with Betty, knowing it would be a valuable investment; Keith was baptized and confirmed with the name of St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes, which was quite fitting given that his childhood cancer case was viewed as essentially hopeless. Even prior to his passing, Keith said that his life was not only spared with divine intervention from his Lord and Savior, but that he lived an incredibly full life of love, joy, and happiness.
Keith was an altar boy at a young age through the Catholic Church, attended a private all-boy’s Catholic school called St. Michaels Academy and followed his Catholic faith into high school where he attended another all-boy’s school called St. Augustine in San Diego, CA. He graduated Class of 1981 and went on to attend Imperial Valley College (IVC) to study autobody and welding with the intention of owning and operating his own Motorcycle Shop in the future. He met his wife, Kayce, in a welding class—no she wasn’t a welding student, she was interpreting sign language for a student with hearing loss. Ironically, Keith developed hearing difficulties in his later years of life, so maybe the way they met and fell in love was destiny. His love and passion for motorcycles and off-roading was so deep, it almost drove Kayce away for good—but knowing the charm and charisma Keith had, he was able to win her over and lock her down for life in 1989. Keith and Kayce Novak married March 18th, 1989, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in El Centro, CA, and were the second couple to get married in the church. Surprisingly, that was probably the only time in Keith’s life he was ok with being second.
In the late 1980’s Keith worked for Winston Tires in El Centro, CA, as a Store Manager, which was the inception of his career in sales. From 1989-1990, Keith combined his intertest for sales and his outgoing personality by working for Kayce’s father’s radio station KROP/KSIQ in Brawley, CA. He was an Account Executive at Stodelle Broadcasting Corporation (KROP/KSIQ), where he sold commercial radio advertisements to local businesses in the Imperial Valley. His deep voice was excellent for radio and his commercial recordings were both convincing and entertaining. If anyone could sell something intangible, such as “Airtime,” it was Keith. It was during his work experience in the Radio and Entertainment industry that he not only developed his aptitude for being a salesman and people person, but he also discovered his passion for customer service and dedication to excelling in business.
Keith became a Franchise Dealer for Snap-on Tools in Imperial Valley, CA in 1990, where he purchased his own truck, “tooled up the truck” with help from Kayce and flourished at being a Snap-on Franchisee. He progressed into Snap-on Corporate Management in 2001, accepted a position as Field Manager and moved to Murrieta, CA with Kayce, and his two children, Kirstee and Kale. Keith held many leadership and management positions in Snap-on including Sales Developer and Business Manager for the Southwest Region, but his overall most coveted position he was most passionate about was his position as Regional Training Manager for the Southwest Region. This position made him most proud and accomplished as he was able to share not only his passion and enthusiasm for Snap-on, but he was able to mentor and inspire new Franchisees with his sales and business expertise. The Regional Training Manager position was the final position Keith held in Snap-on. Overall, he dedicated thirty-three exceptional years to Snap-on Tools, and would have been eligible for retirement in less than five years.
Keith’s natural talent for being a salesman enabled him to accomplish an incredible amount of success during his time with Snap-on Tools. At the start of his career in Snap-on, his motivation to be a top achiever was the primary inspiration in his performance. After many years of success in the business, he received his most prized award of #1 Business Manager in North America, also known as The President’s Cup, and can be considered the most prestigious award in Snap-on for Corporate Sales. His office is adorned with awards that boast “Top Sales,” “Top Field Group,” and “Top Franchise Performance Team,” all which were awards that he took much pride in. It wasn’t until after he was diagnosed with cancer that Keith realized that awards and recognition were fulfilling, but the valuable things in life are often intangible. The relationships he cultivated through Snap-on and the way he could impact someone’s life and career became something he cherished more than his greatest achievements.
Keith loved and deeply valued his career with Snap-on Tools as well as his Snap-on family and had a knack for brightening the days of his colleagues and customers. His mottos that will always be remembered as his ambition to providing great service were: “People buy people,” “Your attitude determines your altitude,” and “people will forget what you say, and forget what you do, but people will never forget the way you make them feel”. Not only did his animated personality, humorous storytelling and energetic sense of humor make him memorable, but Keith had an incredible knack for making people feel important and celebrated. Beyond the awards and achievements, that is what he would hope his Snap-on family will always remember about him.
Keith’s Snap-on career led him to move from Murrieta, CA to St. George, UT in 2016 with his wife, Kayce. He traded in the city life for a more tranquil area where he purchased a home on 1.2 acres that had an existing dream workshop for him to continue pursuing his passions in life. His passions and interests included off-roading, riding and tinkering on his motorcycles in his workshop, driving his Jeep and smoking a cigar, relaxing in the hot tub overlooking the red rock plateaus of St. Geroge, loving on his dogs Homer and Tilly, and grooming the lawn on his riding lawn mower while wearing his “Farmer John” overalls.
He was a risk taker and a thrill seeker. He got his first three-wheeler (ATC) at age 16 and taught himself to ride in the Imperial Sand Dunes at Glamis, CA. He shared his joy for off-roading and motorcycles with his family. He raised his kids Kirstee and Kale with family camping trips and riding in Glamis, teaching them to ride quads, and living the off-road life he loved. Keith cherished taking his side by sides out to Sand Hollow Dunes in southern UT; and especially appreciated that he could legally ride his side by sides on the streets from his home in St. George, to the sand dunes without even having to load them up in the trailer.
Although he loved off-roading vehicles, motorcycles and sharing his enthusiasm for them were undoubtedly Keith’s passion. At one point, Keith proudly estimated that he had owned approximately 52 motorcycles over the course of his lifetime. He was a fan of taking the family to annual AMA Supercross events and even got his son, Kale racing motorcross. During Kale’s racing days, he was the most proud and dedicated racing dad with the full motorcross trailer and pit set-up. Keith loved riding his KTM Motorcycle on the challenging trails of Ocotillo, CA and Baja California, Mexico, as well as the winding mountain back roads of Big Bear, CA and the rugged red-dirt roads of Warner Valley, UT. To us and others who rode with him, he will always be known as the kind of guy who enjoyed riding the “technical course,” taking people on the hardest, rockiest, and ultimately the most fun trails of their lives.
One of Keith’s other pride and joys was becoming a grandpa (Pawpaw) to his first granddaughter, Hadley Elaine Novak in June 2020, and his first grandson Brooks Lyden Novak in September 2021. He and Kayce built a beautiful home in Salem, UT and moved in October 2022 to be closer to the grandkids. Keith met his third grandbaby, Maverick Blair Novak, born May 2023 and enjoyed spending time and playing with the kids anytime he had the opportunity.
Keith’s battle with Kidney Cancer began November 2017, and he fought the good fight for almost 6 years. He continued to battle the treatments, surgeries, symptoms, and setbacks with a positive attitude and fighting spirit. His trust in his Lord and Savior was renewed through his challenging journey with cancer, and he committed his faith and was baptized and became a follow of Jesus Christ in July 2020. Because of his optimistic attitude and hopeful spirit, he found the silver lining in his tough battle and grew through the hard times.
He would remind friends and family of this by saying, “cancer didn’t happen to me, it happened FOR me.” Even when the grips of his cancer were strong, Keith continued to cherish the warm embrace of family and friends and found comfort in being surrounded by conversation and laughter. After nearly six years of fighting cancer so he could be here to enjoy the people and the things that he loved the most, Keith shed his earthly pain and made an ethereal exit, surrounded by the people he loved and nurtured all his life.
Keith is dearly loved and survived by his loving wife Kayce Novak, of Salem, UT, and two children, Kirstee Novak, of Salem, UT and Kale Novak, and his daughter-in law, Haylee Novak both of Santaquin, UT. His three grandchildren, Hadley, Brooks, and Maverick also deeply miss him being here to play with them and create memories. Keith was the youngest of two children, and is survived by his sister, Kimberly A. Novak. He is predeceased and joining in heaven his mother, Elizabeth Lucille Novak, his father, Robert Eugene Novak, and his beloved dogs, Homer, and Tilly.
A Celebration of life for Keith will be held on June 29th, 2024, at a private location.
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