Chester W. "Chet" Novak, 72, a U.S. Army veteran from World War II, died Thursday in Weiss Memorial Hospital, Chicago. Born in Chicago, Mr. Novak lived in the Irving Park area for the last 40 years. He entered the Army in 1942 and served as a paratrooper-pathfinder, laying out the drop zone for other paratroopers, in the 82nd Airborne Division. He won a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and four battle stars. Mr. Novak was past national president of the 82nd Airborne Division Association and a member of the Chicago chapter, past commander of the Combined Veterans Association of Illinois and past president of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Illinois. After the war, he served as a Chicago sales representative for the Vernon Co. of Newton, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and three sisters. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday in Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 S. Archer Ave., Chicago. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Monday in St. Jane De Chantal Church, 53rd Street and McVicker.

(Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL, 13 Feb 1994, Page 8 - courtesy of Tedd Cocker)

Chester W. "Chet" Novak, 72, a decorated World War II paratrooper and past national president of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, died Thursday at Weiss Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Novak, an Irving Park area resident, was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and four campaign battle stars. He was a paratrooper pathfinder in the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

A retired sales representative for an advertising novelties company, he was a former president of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County and past commander of the Combined Veterans Association of Illinois.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Noelle, and three sisters, Sophie Wiora, Adeline Novak and Ann Novak.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Richard-Midway Funeral Home, 5749 Archer. Funeral mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Monday at St. Jane de Chantal Church, 52nd and Austin, followed by burial in Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

(Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL, 13 Feb 1994, Page 51 - courtesy of Tedd Cocker)