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Russell Anthony Novotny

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Birth	:	3 Jul 1916 Belle Plaine, Benton County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	23 Apr 2006 Susanville, Lassen County, California, USA
Burial	:	Waterford Center Cemetery, Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.6523972, -83.4075775
Description	:	The unofficial greeter of Peninsula Village has passed away. Russell Anthony Novotny died on April 23, 2006 at the Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville. He was 89. Russ was born in Belle Plaine, Iowa in 1916. He grew up outside of Elberon, a czech-speaking community, on a farm where they raised wheat, oat and corn as well as cattle and pigs. Russ was very private person even as a child, preferring solitary activities to playing with others. His father, Louis Nowotny, was a farmer who sometimes also worked in banking. Russ graduated from Elberon High School in Elberon, Iowa,... Read More	The unofficial greeter of Peninsula Village has passed away. Russell Anthony Novotny died on April 23, 2006 at the Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville. He was 89. Russ was born in Belle Plaine, Iowa in 1916. He grew up outside of Elberon, a czech-speaking community, on a farm where they raised wheat, oat and corn as well as cattle and pigs. Russ was very private person even as a child, preferring solitary activities to playing with others. His father, Louis Nowotny, was a farmer who sometimes also worked in banking. Russ graduated from Elberon High School in Elberon, Iowa, and soon met his future wife, Bernadine Kelly, at the weekly dances at Dysert Community hall – where bands such as Arty Shaw, Lawrence Welk and Glenn Miller would play (50¢ to attend). He drove a gravel truck for a year after high school before leaving the farm to attend Cedar Rapids Business College. While at college he held two jobs: working in a mortuary (for room) and at the Pullman café (for meals). Russ married Bernie in Vinton Iowa, six weeks before joining the Army Air Corps in the spring of 1942. He did his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, pre-flight aviation training in Nashville, Tennessee, advanced flight training at Maxwell Field Montgomery, Alabama in 1943, and finally cadet training in Shaw Field, South Carolina and Turner Field, Albany, Georgia. Russ spent 8 weeks learning to fly the B-17 bomber in Sebring, Florida, and then trained on this plane for another 8 weeks in Anon Park with his first crew. Russ and his crew were sent to Europe aboard the Queen Elizabeth, arriving in March of 1944. They were based at Great Ashfield in England, and were responsible for flying missions into Western Europe. As he described it, "some of these raids consisted of over 400 planes. We had to dodge fighter planes, flak shells and kept wondering if we were going to make this trip back." Russ flew a total of 29 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing one of these missions with only one (of four) engines intact and landing the plane safely – for "courage and resolute purpose in the face of great danger." When he returned from the war, he moved his family of three to Los Angeles and began to study electronics. It was there that he started his first business. Seeking a return to his rural roots, Russ moved his family of nine to Lake Almanor in 1965. What then? Working in construction, starting a General Store, hunting deer and rabbits, continual re-building of the family home, and finally, his calling: a garden. While all of this was going on, Russ worked as a Real Estate Broker… thirty years before retiring. Russ's passing was preceded by his infant son Thomas, and his oldest daughter Mary Ellen. He is survived by his wife Bernie, of Susanville; his eldest son Tony, of Bozeman Montana; Greg Novotny, of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; Gail Green, of Santa Monica; Robert Novotny, of San Francisco; Margaret Novotny, of San Francisco; and Philip Novotny of San Luis Obispo. The veterans of Susanville gave him military funeral honors that included a 21 gun salute, the playing of Taps, and the presentation of the flag to his wife and family. All of Russ' family, their spouses and his grandchildren, were present for his service at the Johnsonville cemetary on April 27th, 2006.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Russell Anthony Novotny's memorial?
Russell Anthony Novotny's memorial is located at: Waterford Center Cemetery, Waterford, Oakland County, USA.
When did Russell Anthony Novotny death?
Russell Anthony Novotny death on 23 Apr 2006 in Susanville, Lassen County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Russell Anthony Novotny's memorial?
Latitude: 42.6523972
Longitude: -83.4075775

Family Members:

Parent

Lewis James Nowotny

(1883 - 1950)

Frances Blanche Kalina Nowotny

(1887 - 1960)

Spouse

Bernadine Kelly Novotny

(1921 - unknow)

Siblings

Otto Edward Nowotny

(1910 - 1960)

Richard Louis Nowotny

(1912 - 1996)

Eugene R Nowotny

(1920 - 1934)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Waterford Center Cemetery
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6523972, -83.4075775

2. Crescent Hills Cemetery
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6692009, -83.3878021

3. Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church Memorial Garden
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6744070, -83.3935960

4. Central United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6485748, -83.3627853

5. Four Towns Cemetery
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6188354, -83.4114532

6. Drayton Plains Cemetery
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6894836, -83.3857880

7. Saint Patricks Church Catholic Cemetery
Union Lake, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6296960, -83.4615580

8. Waterford Village Cemetery
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7038193, -83.4029694

9. Oxbow Lakeside Cemetery
White Lake, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6400840, -83.4786270

10. All Saints Cemetery
Waterford, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7016449, -83.4411697

11. Oakland Cemetery
Pontiac, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6610985, -83.3274994

12. Orchard Lake Community Church Columbarium
Orchard Lake, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5941470, -83.3865050

13. Ottawa Park Cemetery
Clarkston, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7146988, -83.4056015

14. Granger Cemetery
White Lake, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6692009, -83.4942017

15. Hillview Memorial Gardens
Clarkston, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7086868, -83.4639664

16. Mount Hope Cemetery
Pontiac, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6267014, -83.3153000

17. Sashabaw Cemetery
Clarkston, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7194328, -83.3634644

18. Lakeview Cemetery
Clarkston, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7263985, -83.4272003

19. Commerce Village Burying Ground
Commerce, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5917015, -83.4756012

20. Richardson Cemetery
Commerce, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5703011, -83.4452972

21. Colombiere Center Cemetery
Clarkston, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7333650, -83.4571700

22. Oak Hill Cemetery
Pontiac, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.6432991, -83.2842026

23. Pine Lake Cemetery
West Bloomfield, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.5736961, -83.3371429

24. Andersonville Cemetery
Andersonville, Oakland County, USA
Coordinate: 42.7303696, -83.4873581