Eleanor Marie Novotny, age 96, of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away on December 4, 2025, after her battle with cancer. She was born on August 9, 1929, to James and Antoinette Krajicek in Lincoln, Nebraska. Growing up with her brother and sister, Joseph and Elsie.
She graduated from Lincoln Highschool and married Ernest Novotny on April 11, 1950. To this union they had two children, Barb and Don. She was a lifelong Husker football fan, watching them play every Saturday. You could find her either enjoying her time in the garden, baking, playing cards or dancing to polka music. She was a devout Catholic as a member of St. Mary and Joseph’s Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ernest; her parents; her brother and sister-in law, Joseph and Elsie Krajicek; her sister and brother-in-law, Elsie and Edward Havlat. She is survived by her children, Barb and Jerry Burklund and Don and Sandy Novotny; her grandchildren, Sean and Jill Burklund, Ryan Burklund, Angelia and Justin Myers, James and Jessica Novotny, and Christopher Phares; her great grandchildren, Jackson Fowler, Izaiah Baker, Mariana Baker, Kyrie Baker, Austin Myers, Kaitlyn Myers, Dailyn Schauer, and Jaxon Schauer; and her niece, Maryann Bickford.
A visitation will be held on December 9, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a rosary to follow at 7:00pm at St. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, 637 Iver St, Valparaiso, Nebraska, 68065. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on December 10, 2025, at 10:30 am, at St. Mary's and Joseph Catholic Church. Memorials are designated to St. Mary's and Joseph Catholic Church in Valparaiso, Nebraska.
