Date of Birth:
Saturday, August 5, 1922
Date of Death:
Monday, October 26, 2020
Age:
98 years old

Marvin Stanley Novotne

Marvin Stanley Novotne, 98, of Rochester, MN was called home by the Lord on October 26, 2020 while at his son’s home, in the Twin Cities where he made his home after the passing of his dear wife, Mary Ann, in 2016.

Marvin was born August 5, 1922 to Frank and Hattie (Batdorf) Novotne in Laduc, Alberta, Canada. He lived there until age 4 when they moved to Rochester by train on his 4^th birthday. He attended Coffman High School in Rochester. Marvin was drafted into the US Army on November 2, 1942. He served in the Pacific as a tank commander where he received a Purple Heart. Marvin was in the battle that liberated the city of Manila, Philippines from the Japanese Army. Upon returning to Rochester, he married Lois Joyce Berndt on Labor Day 1946 and he had two sons, Steven Lee and Bruce Allen Novotne.

Marvin enjoyed the outdoors which led him to an outside job delivering for the American Linen Company, and later, milk delivery for Polly Meadows.

In June of 1967, he married the love of his life, Mary Ann Dawson and welcomed her children into their home in Rochester.  Both Marvin and Mary Ann worked at the Mayo Clinic in the custodial services until their retirement in 1987.  They spent many happy years together in their RV, traveling to Texas over the winters and dividing the summer between their home in Rochester and camping at Whippoorwill campgrounds near Plainview, MN.

His hobbies were camping, fishing, gardening, carpentry, and splitting wood.

Marvin is survived by his children, Bruce (Polly) Novotne, Theresa (Richard) Lund, Richard Dawson, Patt Pirkl, Tom (Mary) Dawson; daughter-in-law, Wendy Williams; two sisters-in-law, Vi Novotne and Marilyn Johnson; 11 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Vernon, Kenneth, and Leland; and sons, Steve and Kevin.

The funeral service for Marvin will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2020 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Pastor Larry Orth officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.