We are deeply saddened to say good-bye to Russell Jay Novkov, age 69. Russ passed away unexpectedly on July 15, 2025, of natural causes. Russ was well-known in Madison as a tireless volunteer, spirited advocate, and devoted friend, and we will dearly miss him. Russ was born on May 2, 1956, to Peter and Marie (Sagadencky) Novkov in Akron, Ohio. He spent the first 14 years of his life in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he graduated from Scottsdale High School. He moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1991, where he was a valued employee of Cintas Corporation for 31 years before his retirement in 2022.
Whatever Russ did—and he did a lot—he was unconditionally devoted. To the Cintas Corporation, he awoke at 3:30 a.m., often picking up coworkers, to arrive by the 5:00 am start to the workday. Russ rarely missed work, and being an essential employee, he worked on-site every day during the pandemic. To his church, First Baptist, he attended regularly, served as an usher and on the Board of Christian Outreach, and participated in the live nativity scene back in the 1990s, standing in tableau in frigid weather. To his family and friends, he never missed a birthday or holiday, and shared Friday night dinner with family almost every week. He drove his friends to the grocery store, picked friends and family up at the airport, and always made himself available if anyone needed a helping hand.
To his community, Russ gave his heart and soul. For decades, he donated blood to the Red Cross (168 times). He volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank. He did phone banking for Wisconsin Public Television’s fundraising drives. He volunteered every year for Brat Fest, Special Olympics, Taste of Madison, and the Art Fair on the Square. He volunteered for countless political campaigns and was an active member of Dane Dems and the Madison Teal Team, and a delegate to the Democratic Party State Convention. Russ spoke out against injustice, campaigned to save the environment, and joined together with others to stand up for fundamental freedoms. He embodied the principle that everyone deserves equal respect. Living this philosophy, he always treated everyone with kindness. As a friend recently remarked, it is hard think of someone more devoted than Russ to making the world a better place.
Russ is survived by his sister, Janice (Lawrence) Bensky, sisters-in-law, Peggy Novkov and Carolyn Novkov, nieces and nephews, Lorie (William) White, Bruce (Holly) Novkov, Kimberly Novkov, Eric Bensky, Sarah Haas, Anne Bensky (Joseph Peters), Rachel Novkov, and Joseph (Kelly) Novkov, and many great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers David Novkov, Ronald Novkov, and Richard Novkov, his sister-in-law, Joyce Novkov, his niece, Pamela (Randy) Roth, and his great-nephew, Jared (Allyson) Roth.
A memorial service will be held on August 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Madison, 518 N. Franklin Ave., Madison WI, with visitation at the church from 1:00 PM until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, suggestions for donations in memory of Russ are Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, American Red Cross, Special Olympics of Wisconsin, Dane Dems, and Wisconsin Public Television.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434
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