Marilyn Faye (Hickman) Novak was born on August 2, 1940, in Seward, Nebraska to Irving and Blanche (Gaskill) Hickman and passed away peacefully being cared for and surrounded by her family on December 2, 2024, in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 84 years and 4 months.

Marilyn was raised in Seward where she attended and graduated from Seward High School with the class of 1959. Marilyn worked at Johnsons Café in Seward where she met Bernard Novak and began dating. Marilyn and Bernie went on vacation and on their way home they spontaneously stopped near Valentine, NE to get married. Bernie and Marilyn raised David, Dale, Kevin and Kimberly. Marilyn worked as a stay-at-home mom while raising their children. Once the children were all old enough and in school, she began working for the Seward Dairy Queen where she worked for 25 years before retiring. She enjoyed going to garage sales and thrift stores. Marilyn loved collecting salt and pepper shakers, different dishware, carousels, clowns and anything unique. She enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Marilyn would always take the grandchildren for four-wheeler rides around their farm.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Dorothy Layman, Leona Cook, Kenneth Hickman, Don Hickman, Eldon Hickman.

Survivors cherishing her memory include her husband of 58 years, Bernie Novak; children and spouses, David (Jody) Novak of Aurora, NE, Dale (Sandy) Novak of Seward, NE, Kevin (DeMaree) Novak of Seward, NE, Kimberly Rolfsmeier of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Blaze, Jayden, Emmelee, Tobias, Mikayla, Carleigh and Alyssa; great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Jazmine and Rhett.

A service will be planned at a later date.