M. Elsie Cerny

M. Elsie Cerny, 83, of Rogers, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Emerald Care Center in Columbus.

Memorials can be directed towards Family Wishes for later designation.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, June 2, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Schuyler with Fr. Gerry Gonderinger officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary all at the church. Visitation will resume Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Schuyler Cemetery with lunch following at the St. Mary’s Social Center. Svoboda Funeral Home is assisting Elsie’s family with arrangements.

Marie Elsie Cerny was born on August 24, 1939 in Dodge, Nebraska to George and Bess (Vlach) Lodes. Elsie attended school in Dodge and after school started working at the Dodge Drug Store. While working at the store, Elsie met the love of her life, Robert Cerny (who had been nudged to drive to Dodge for a soda by a mutual friend in Schuyler). The couple was married on January 5, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dodge.

Some would call Elsie a saint, and others knew her to be a dedicated mother, but everyone agreed that by raising six children (five boys) she had her work cut out for her. She was a staple at all of her boys’ and grandsons’ wrestling events throughout their wrestling careers.

Elsie supported both her husband, Robert, and her sons at many of their stock car races and she became a devout 4-H supporter with her kids. Every summer Elsie meticulously cared for her flower and vegetable gardens and shared with her family or canned to be enjoyed year-round. Elsie looked forward every week to her standing Wednesday morning coffee group with her gal friends.

She was very devoted to her Catholic faith and enjoyed attending mass regularly. Elsie also served in many capacities, from being an officer to serving funeral lunches, with the St. Mary’s Altar Guild. Through her husband’s involvement in AA and Elsie’s involvement in Al-Anon, Elsie met wonderful people who she called life-long friends.

Elsie is survived by her children: Keith (Debbie) Cerny of Alamosa, CO, Joel (Rhonda) Cerny of Schuyler, NE, Kaye (Tim) Heavican of Schuyler, NE, Dan (Linda) Cerny of Seward, NE, Roger (Julie) Cerny of Columbus, NE, Eric (Special Friend Misty) of Rogers, NE; 19 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Doris Mehaffey of North Bend, NE, Gloria Jonas of Fergus Falls, MN, Mary (Tim) Priester of Golden, CO and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Robert in 2014, father George Lodes, mother Bess Schlautman, step-father Henry Schlautman, parents-in-law Edward and Helen Cerny, brother Dave (Dorothy) Lodes, siblings-in-law Ronald Mehaffey, Emil and Nadine Beran, and Jack Jonas.