Henry Vincent Konecny

ELKHART -- Henry V. Konecny, 92, of Elkhart, passed away Friday morning, April 3, 2009.

He was born on Jan. 21, 1917, in Stockett, Mont. to Charles and Suzanne (Kollar) Konecny. On April 21, 1939, he married the love of his life, the former Lucille C. "Lu" Restelli in Great Falls, Mont. In addition to several brothers and sisters, she preceded him in death on Jan. 9, 1968.

We are all measured by what we leave behind on this earth, and what he and Lu left behind was a strong and rich heritage of a 120 member immediate family, including 15 children and their spouses: Patricia (Ralph) Cortas, Dennis (Catherine) Konecny, Eugene (Linda) Konecny, Jerome Konecny, Pamela (Gus) Bozzuto, Mary (John) Walker, Thomas (Tina) Konecny, Jan (Denise) Konecny, Margaret Ann (Gary) Goodman, Arthur (Phyllis Herczeg) Konecny, Paul (Cathy) Konecny, Nina Marie (Brian) Cunningham, Peter (Deb) Konecny, Jennifer (Evan) Martin and Carolyn (Larry) Blosser. He also leaves behind 40 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and a sister, Irene (Norman) Erie.

Henry launched the Radiology Department at Elkhart General Hospital in 1942 and devoted 60 years of service to the hospital. Literally hundreds of X-ray technicians have been trained using the programs and curriculum he created. He was self-taught because there was no formal education in radiology when he started.

One of his most memorable moments in his department were the Palm Sunday tornadoes in 1965, in which more than 300 patients were X-rayed that night. Henry was a member of Toastmasters International, was a 67-year member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church and planted and raised over 650 varieties of iris.

Please join with his family as we celebrate the life of Henry V. Konecny from 4 to 8 p.m. on today, April 5, 2009, at the Billings Funeral Home, at 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, where a parish rosary will conclude the evening at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2009, at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, 1108 S. Main St., Elkhart, where friends may call for one hour prior to the mass. Rev. Robert VanKempen will officiate with burial and graveside services to follow at St. Vincent Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Vincent DePaul Catholic School, a school attended by all of his children.

To share a memory of Henry or to send a condolence please visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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