Joseph Lawrence Cerny

Joseph Lawrence Cerny, 91, of Witt, IL, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 9:44 a.m. at  Hillsboro Area Hospital in Hillsboro, IL. Cremation rites were accorded.  A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021,at 11:00 a.m., at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro, IL.  Deacon Leland Johns will officiate.  Military rites will be accorded by Department of Defense and American Legion Post #425 at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home.

Mr. Cerny was born on October 20, 1929, in Chicago, IL, to the late Joseph A. and Blanche (Michek) Cerny. He was a 1947 graduate of Farragut High School in Chicago, IL. Mr. Cerny was married and had three children with his first wife, whom he later divorced. He later married Chi Kyun Woo, on September 2, 1968 in Seoul Korea. Mr. Cerny went on to enlist in the U.S. Army where he served from August 1948 to September 1968. During his career with the U.S. Army, Mr. Cerny’s tours of duty included Japan, Korea, Germany, Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland.  After retiring from the military, he became very active in the Local VFW Post 1306, in Taylor Springs, IL. He also became a member of the American Legion Post 425 in Irving, IL, as well as the Montgomery County Veterans Assistance Commission. Mr. Cerny was also instrumental in helping form the Montgomery County, not-for-profit, Veterans Task Force, which provides free transportation to veterans for appointments at various veterans hospitals. After his service, Mr. Cerny began working as an officer at Graham Correctional Facility in Hillsboro, IL. Mr. Cerny had lived in Chicago, IL and Witt, IL, as well as many other places during his service in the Army, throughout his lifetime. 

Mr. Cerny is survived by his wife, Chi Kyun Cerny, of Witt, IL; his children Tina Penrod of Karnak, IL; Joseph “Chip” (wife, Debbie) Cerny of Maui, HI; and Joanne (husband, Brad) Hill of Glenview, IL; Eleven grandchildren, and many great grandchildren; as well as his brother, Lee (wife, Mary Jo) Cerny. Mr. Cerny was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph A. and Blanche (Michek) Cerny and his daughter, Joliene Colton.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Lawrence Cerny, please visit our floral store.