Harry Novak Burial Site
This cemetery is located on the NE corner of the intersection of Highway 73/75 & 'K' Road. The cemetery is surrounded on all four sides by a beautiful white wooden rail fence. It is very well maintained.
"A great love affair with America began on July 4, 1927, when Harry came to Nebraska City by train. He wore a tag around his neck saying, 'Nebraska City', put there by the Cunard Ship Company in New York, as the young immigrant from Varaklani, Latvia, could speak no English. 'I would rather dig ditches in America than be a prince in Europe' would be his slogan from then on.
He lived first with his brother, Ben, and his wife, Dora, and their children at 1523 First Avenue. He went to the old Second Avenue School, although he was seventeen. He completed five grades in one year, helped by teachers; Misses Reynolds, Homeyer, and Stroble. In Europe he had attended a Russian Orthodox School until he was 13. He also attended Hebrew School there for seven years. In 1921, after the death of his father, Abraham, he started a small grocery store in Varaklani.
After leaving Second Avenue School, he went to Humboldt, Nebraska, where he dealt in scrap iron, used cars, and parts. He bought an old bed for five dollars and slept above the garage. Everyone else talked about the Depression, but to Harry, after Europe, and with few expenses, things looked rosy. He also bought and sold furs and hides.
In 1933, he sold the Humboldt place and returned to Nebraska City, where he joined brother Ben in the Chrysler and Plymouth dealership. That was the year before he went back to Europe to see his family. He could see the 'lights going out' there, and was able to get brothers Herman and Abe to America. In 1935, after Ben left for Omaha, Harry acquired the Buick, Pontiac, and GMC franchise, before the Holocaust in Europe. Eleven relatives perished in the Holocaust, including Harry's mother, Esther Diamond Novomisle, his brother, Henoch, and wife, sister, Lessa and spouse and six children.
In 1953, March 8, Harry and Norma Levin were married at Temple Bnai Jeshurun in Leavenworth, Kansas. Harry's love affair with America includes one with Nebraska City (he gave her city parking lot), the land, animals, his wife of thirty years, Norma (Nana), his dear daughter, Dr. Esther Novak, and his dear granddaughter, Rachel Michal Goldberger." (1)
Burial Listing: A complete listing of burials can be found at:
Gravestone Photographs: http://nebraskagravestones.org/
Point of Contact: If you desire more information about this cemetery, please contact the Otoe County Genealogical Society at ocgs.ne@gmail.com and we will provide you with as much information about the cemetery as possible.
Cemetery Photographs:
Works Cited:
(1) Nana Novak (1983). 'Otoe County History', Syracuse, Otoe County, Nebraska. Pg. 209.
