Our dear Walter Antony Novak, 102 years, has returned home to God and his loved wife Sophie and many brothers and friends who preceded him. He is survived by three daughters, Frances (Australia), Barbara (Washington, DC) and Tecla (Michigan), by grandchildren Jimmy, Jennifer and Michael, by greatgrandchildren Ocean, Island, Reef, Shell, James, Fiona, Kathryn, Elliot, and by sisters Mary and Ann, spouses and many friends. Walter was born in Canada. He had seven brothers and two sisters. His mother died when he was very young, and his father moved the family to rural Michigan.

Walter trained horses as a young man, and later sang many of the very old cowboy songs with the Betmar Jam Club. He served in WWII, and once saved an entire battalion from poisoned ice-cream. After the war, on the advice of a heart doctor who said it would be calming, he and Sophie bought a small farm in Michigan where he raised three daughters and a few cows, chickens and prize Duroc hogs.

After traveling the USA and becoming snowbirds for awhile, Walter and Sophie settled in Betmar. Walter wrote several books about the joys of childhood on the farm: picking cherries, home-made ice-cream, driving tractor, games and toys. A later book, The Narrow Way , is sold on Amazon.

During his 22 years at Betmar, Walter enjoyed many friends and activities including dancing, clogging, singing with the Jam Club, dominos, Bible Study, Vespers, cards, shuffleboard, and water aerobics. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In his last two months or so on Earth, he felt that this world had gotten too small for him and he decided to move on.

There will a memorial service on Sunday February 24th at Betmar Estates at club house #3 from 2 to 4 pm. Graveside service Monday Feb. 25, 11 am at Florida National cemetery, Bushnell, Florida. Betmar music jam Monday Feb. 25 at 6 pm.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Vet Dog Foundation. Toll-free at (866)VETDOGS (838-3647) and we'll process your donation over the phone, or you can text

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