Vera "Maxine" Harris Travis Novak, 01 Feb 1924 - 06 Dec 2007

NOVAK, TRAVIS HARRIS

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 12/10/2007 at 21:39:24

Vera "Maxine" Harris Travis Novak, 83, of 24 26th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Mount Vernon, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, in her home from acute leukemia. Funeral services: noon Tuesday at Morgan Funeral and Cremation Choices, Mount Vernon Chapel. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday in the chapel. Burial: Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery.

Maxine is survived by her husband, Frank M. Novak of Higley Mansion Care Center, Cedar Rapids; two sons, Thomas (Ginny) Travis of Coralville and Bill (Terri) Travis of Shellsburg; and a daughter, Peggy (Mike) Powell of Toddville. Maxine is also survived by four stepsons, Mike (Mary), Tom (Betty), Jim (Susan), and Dennis (Heather) Novak; two stepdaughters, Mary Kay (Pat) McGrath and Janet (Tom) Kleopfer, all of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Andrea (Derrick), Brad, Matthew and Ashley; nineteen stepgrandchildren; three great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; three sisters, Wanda (Ray) Schladetzky, Buetta Bentley, and Ilene (Gary) Holderman; a brother Sonny Harris; and many special nieces and nephews.

Preceding Maxine in death were her parents; her first husband, Dale; a son, Terry Travis; a brother, Dale Harris; three sisters, Vivian Zaruba, Genevieve Jones and Brownie Fritz; and a grandson, Nicholas Travis.

Maxine was born Feb. 1, 1924, in Lisbon, the daughter of Henry and Agnes Gabbert Harris. She graduated from Lisbon High School in 1943 and worked at A.B. Dicks in Chicago during World War II, manufacturing the then secret Norden Bomb Sight. She then went to Stanford, Conn., where she worked in a French restaurant. On returning to Lisbon she married Dale Travis in 1945. They had a grocery store in Mount Vernon and later bought a paint and wallpaper store in Williamsburg. They returned to Mount Vernon where her husband became postmaster and she was employed at Shutt's Pharmacy. She later went to work for Rockwell Collins and after eighteen years, retired in 1984.

Maxine was past Noble Grand of the Rebecca Lodgeand a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She volunteered many hours at the Hahn-Howard American Legion Post No. 480 and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Iowa City, which she found very rewarding. She wrote poetry, was awarded the Golden Poet Award in 1989 in Washington D.C. and had many of her poems published.

Maxine loved her family, friends, butterflies and music.

A memorial fund has been established in her name.

Cedar Rapids Gazette 9 Dec 2007, 5b