Jean H. Novotny

Jean H. Novotny (nee Hendrick) Milwaukee area: Jean H. Novotny died peacefully in the loving presence of her daughter, Susan Novotny on January 18, 2025 at the age of 98.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on New Year’s Day 1927, Jean was the daughter of the late George Hendrick and Caroline (Dennstaedt) Hendrick and younger sister of the late Eleonore “Elly” Bruce (Tom Bruce).  The Hendrick family moved several times in Jean’s youth during the Great Depression and Post- Depression era making homes in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Jean went on to pursue higher education, pledge to the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and receive her B.A. from Northwestern University in Zoology and Latin. Jean met her future husband the Milwaukee attorney Richard L. Novotny (Dick) at a visit to her sister and brother-in-law and nephew Terry (Robert T. Bruce) in Milwaukee for the birth of their second son, Steven Bruce.

Jean and Dick went on to marry on December 12, 1950 and welcomed a family through the adoption of 3 children (2 boys and 1 girl) from 1956-1959. Tragically their oldest child, Kurt, died from a congenital heart defect 1/2/1959 when Susan was just 2 but fortune smiled upon them when they went on to adopt Brian in late 1959.

The Novotny family enjoyed summers at Pelican Lake, Wisconsin where they had a cottage since the 1930’s. Though faced with the heartbreak of Dick’s early death to cancer in 1985 Jean went on to travel in Europe, Canada and the United States where she also pursued further education through Elder Hostel and enjoyed visits from grandchildren and great grandchildren which she felt were God’s gift for growing old.

Jean devoted her life to her family, close friends, learning, travel and to a lifetime of volunteerism.  Jean volunteered for over 20 years at Community Memorial Hospital, taught English to immigrants working towards citizenship, became a Foster Grandmother through Lutheran Social Services and had many volunteer positions at her Luther Manor Community from 2006-2023 as well as donating to many causes close to her heart.

Jean is survived by her daughter Susan Novotny (Finn Alden) and son Brian Novotny, her daughter’s children, Alysa Selene and Sean McKeithen, Alysa’s (Wolfgang Blau) children; Troy and Vivian Selene as well as her nephew Steve (Jan) Bruce and her goddaughter, Diane Martinez (nee Schulz) and the Schulz family, her close friends Rose and Joe Klucarich (Wisconsin) as well as friends and community at Luther Manor in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Jean will be buried at Pinelawn Memorial Park, 10700 W Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM alongside her husband, Richard and son Kurt.

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