Eugene Paul Cerny

  General Notes:

Eugene has a bachelors degree from Wayne State College. He has a Masters Degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and he has a Specialist Degree from Chadron State College. He taught at Central High in Omaha, was HS Principal in Verdigre and Bloomfield, and superintendent in Bradshaw and Madison for a total of 35 years in education. He retired in 1999 due to health problems. Gene added a two car garage addition to the Madison house after retirement. Julia retired in 2002. In 2005 Gene and Julie moved to Papillion, NE. Diane (Dee), Kris and Doug live nearby. Gina is 2 hours away in Grand Island, NE. Tom Cerny lives in nearby Ralston and Julie has several cousins in the Omaha area.

Eugene remembers when his father, Frank Benedict had bought a new Case tractor. Eugene was five or six years old. He somehow started the tractor and then yelled for help. Tom and his Father came running to the rescue. The tractor was in gear and may have run into a fence before his Dad stopped it. Gene mostly remembers running as fast as he could to the corn crib and crawling to the top so his Dad couldn't get to him.

Eugene also remembers his Dad Frank Cerny working with electricity long before others in the area. They had electricity in the house and barn. These incidents happened on a farm near St. Charles, SD.

Eugene has the nickname "Lefty". He was a baseball pitcher for the Verdigre High School team when he was in junior high school. He played on the Verdigre Legion team and later pitched for the Verdigre Town team in the 1970's. He is left-handed.



Obituary- Eugene Paul Cerny


Eugene (Gene, Lefty) Cerny was born June 9, 1939 and died August 25, 2018.
Gene married Julia (Judy) Sukup on May 9, 1964 at St. Ludger's Catholic Church in Creighton, NE.
Children are Dee Kohler (Steve) of Papillion, NE; Kris Donnelly (Patrick) of Columbus, NE; Doug Cerny (Angie) of Gretna, NE; and Gina Woods (Scott) of Grand Island, NE. Eleven grandchildren are Sarah Cooper, Drew Kohler (Jasmaine), Claire Donnelly, Mallory Woods, Sean Donnelly, Cameron Cerny, Megan Woods, Gracie Woods, Caleb Cerny, Carter Cerny, Callum Cerny and one great grandchild Brandon Cooper.
Siblings and in-laws: Frank (Betty Cerny; Tom (Pam) Cerny; Midge (Don Effle; and Ray (Pat) Cerny. Ann Sukup; Dan (Connie) Sukup; and Dave (Barb) Sukup. Preceded in death by brother-in-law, Ray Sukup.

Gene entered the US Army after graduation from Verdigre High School in 1957. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He attended Wayne State College in 1963.

Gene was a math teacher at Omaha Central High school until 1970. He was a High School Principal in Verdigre, NE from 1970-1976; and Bloomfield, NE from 1977-1978,. The family moved when Gene became Superintendent of Schools at Bradshaw, NE from 1978-1986. He also served as York County Superintendent. He finished his career as Superintendent of Madison schools in Madison, NE fro 1986-1998.

Gene was active as a 4th degree in the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed improving and building things - community centers, meeting places, schools, baseball fields and teams of teachers. He was a lifelong learner and was always reading and sharing books. He was growing in his faith and sharing scripture with others.

After retirement, he tutored inmates at Madison County jail for their GED. Gene and Julie moved to Papillion, NE in 2005 to be closer to their family and grandchildren. Gene was actively involved in sending words of encouragement and pride for his grandchildren's birthdays and celebrations.

Gene knew his true purpose in life was to serve others. He was a believer in God and the fulfillment of His church. His last days on earth he reflected and shared with others his feeling of fulfillment and peace.



THE HIDDEN LIFE
I have kept this little quote with me since I was a young man and it has kept me on a faiithful path with various relationships and philosophies that I have encountered. Maybe it will be the same for you. We all must be anchored in principle and life. Have a great life.
Dad - Granddad -Friend - Eugene Cerny Christmas - 2015

"We live our inmost lives alone. At best we are but little known. And even those who know us best, have probed to find within our breast that secret place, that hidden source of life's expressions. But, of course they probe in vain. The life lived there no mortal soul may with us share. Deep in the confines of the heart, where all life's issues start, there is a hidden sphere, unknown to others - there we live alone.
Alone, Alone, we long in vain for sympathy to ease our pain, for some heart that can understand, but, no. How wisely God had planned to keep life's center and its throne reserved to Him, and Him alone.
We turn to God, and seeking find what friends, however good and kind- gave not. He understands and feels, He every bleeding heart wounds heals, the realm we occupied alone, He fills. Our lives to Him are known.

Poem that Gene had memorized from army days and continued to know it throughout our married life. He recited it for one of our Christmas gatherings in 2015.
The Old Violin - The Touch of the Master's Hand
Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile. "What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?" "One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?" "Two dollars, who makes it three?" Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three," But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man Came forward and picked up the bow. Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings, He played a melody, pure and sweet As sweet as the angel sings. The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low, Said,"What now am I bid for this old violing?" As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"Onethousand, one thousand, Do I hear two? "Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice, Going and gone", said he. The audience cheered, But some of them cried, "We just don't understand." "What changed its' worth?" Swift came the reply. "The Touch of the Masters Hand." "And many a man with life out of tune All battered and bruised with hardship is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd. Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on. He is going once, he is going twice. He is going and almost gone. But the Master Comes. And the foolish crowd never can quite understand, The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought By the Touch of the
Masters' Hand.
-Myra Brooks Welch

I miss my guy every single day.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Mass of Christian Burial, 30 Aug 2018, St. Columbkille Church, Sarpy County NE.

• Burial, 1 Sep 2018, St. Ludger Cemetery - Creighton, NE.

Eugene married Julia Frances Sukup Cerny, daughter of John Andrew Sukup, Jr. and Wilma Frances Van Brocklin Sukup, on 9 May 1964 in Creighton, NE. (Julia Frances Sukup Cerny was born on 18 Mar 1943 in Orchard, NE..)