Wilda Leah Eickmann Novotny, the third child of Louis and Mattie (Randels) Eickmann, was born May 13, 1913 in northern
Republic County
,
Kansas
. She passed from this life Monday, March 21, 2011 at the Belleville Health Care Center in
Belleville
,
Kansas
at the age of 97 years. Wilda attended Victor rural school and graduated from
Belleville
High School
in 1930. She was a graduate of
Kansas
State
University
and
Emporia
State
University
. Wilda served in
Kansas
schools for 43 years, teaching in Republic, Geary, and
Washington
Counties
as a classroom teacher, reading teacher, learning disability teacher, and principal. During WWII she was united in marriage to Charles Novotny. Following his service in Europe in 1945 they established their home in
Narka
,
Kansas
. In 1959 they moved to
Junction City
,
Kansas
where she taught in the
Geary
County
schools. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Charles passed away in November of 1972. In the spring of 1977, Wilda took her aged father into her home and cared for him until his death in 1981. In 1979 Wilda retired and returned to
Belleville
where she resided until her death. She was laid to rest beside her husband in the
Chester
Cemetery
. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers Mervin and Erskine Eickmann; sister Eathel Peters; and nephew Eugene Peters. Survivors include her nieces Clarice Peters and Mary Gustin; nephew Steve Eickmann; several great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm Friday, March 25, 2011 at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home,
Belleville
,
Kansas
. Burial is in the
Chester
Cemetery
,
Chester
,
Nebraska
. Memorials may be sent to the Presbyterian Church of Narka or
Belleville
. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home,
Belleville
,
Kansas
was in charge of these arrangements.
