Clarence G. Novotny

Clarence G. Novotny, 92, of Sioux City went to be with his Lord and savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, October 28, 2021 while his wife and several family members were by his side. He died from the complications from having Parkinson’s disease.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, November 1, 2021 at the CrossPointe Christian Church. Interment with military honors will follow at Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, October 31, 2021 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences can be expressed at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Clarence was born December 20, 1928 in Tabor, South Dakota, the son of Charles and Harriet (Dugavic) Novotny, and grew up during the Great Depression. He was raised in Tabor until 1938 when the family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana briefly, then to southern Texas until his teenage years when the family moved to the family farm in South Dakota. Eager to serve his country, Clarence hitchhiked to Missouri and enlisted in the United States Army before the age of 18. He was a Military Policeman during Occupy Japan; he guarded the Officer’s Headquarters where he would often see General Douglas McArthur. He trained as a sharp shooter and earned the rank of Master Sergeant. He was the only survivor of his original troop of almost 200 soldiers. Decorations awarded were World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal of Japan. After honorably discharging from the Army, Clarence moved to Sioux City and started the International Roofing Company that he ran for a few years. On November 18, 1950, he married Clyda French in South Sioux City, Nebraska. To this union, six children were born. The couple were just three weeks shy of celebrating their 71^st wedding anniversary. From 1955 to 1957, he worked at the General Motors plant as a line supervisor in Panorama City, California. Afterword, the family moved back to Sioux City where Clarence opened Novotny Body Shop, a business he was truly passionate about. Clarence was proud to be the first body shop in the area to use plastic bondo filler in his repairs. He was generous and forgiving as a business owner and was willing to work with customers experiencing financial hardship. He ran the shop for many years and never fully retired; he was always helping others by repairing vehicles for his family and friends.

Clarence was a devoted member of the CrossPointe Christian Church. He had a big heart and would help anyone in need. He saw beauty in antiques and enjoyed restoring them to their original glory. He was an inventor with no patents and a natural health enthusiast who loved chocolate; he was an avid reader of health publications.

Those left to honor his memory are his wife of 70 years, Clyda Novotny of Sioux City; children Celeste (Michael) Hughes of Des Moines, IA; Patrice (Kyle) Becker of McKinney, TX, Cindy (David) Pearson of Hayden, ID; Rick (Elise) Novotny of Sioux City, IA; Michael (Angela) Novotny of Flower Mound, TX; grandchildren Phil & Tony Hughes, Kristen & Kyle M. Becker, Valerie, Angela, Michael & Zachary Pearson, Nick, Kelli, Chris & Jamie Novotny, Preston & Ava Novotny; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; sister Betty Holtdorf of Red Bluff, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents (Harriet and Charley); his son Larry Novotny; grandson Zachary Pearson; great-grandson Brecken Novotny; sisters Mildred Montross and Harriet Hitt; and his brother Kenneth Novotny.

The family would like to thank the Care Initiatives Hospice and Westwood Specialty Care for their loving care of Clarence. A special thank you to his nieces Kim and Judy who were his, “angels in disguise”.