Louis V. Cerveny

Louis V. Cerveny, 95, of Savanna, Illinois died Sunday, June 14 at Big Meadows Nursing Home. He was born May 20, 1920, the son of Frank and Mary (Petrak) Cerveny near Fairfax, Iowa. On November 22, 1941, he married Ruth E. Mikulecky of Cedar Rapids. Louis worked for the Milwaukee Railroad before and after WWII until his retirement. While in the army, Louis served in the 713th Railway Battalion transporting ammunition and supplies throughout North Africa and Europe.
After the war, Louis and his family resided in Savanna. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, appreciating the Mississippi River all four seasons. With his wife, Ruth, he enjoyed traveling, dancing and golf.Survivors include his daughters, Marilou (Les) Haworth of Elgin and Audrey (Jonathan) Nesbitt of Sterling; two grandchildren, Mark (Anna) Nesbitt of Monroe, Wisconsin, and Sarah (Derrick) Peltier of Dixon; and one great-grandchild, Kayleigh Jo Nesbitt of Monroe. Louis was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, four brothers, and two sisters.
Louis was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Savanna, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Savanna Lion’s Club, Loyal Order of the Moose, Mississippi Flyway Sportsman’s Club, Masonic Lodge #385, Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Freeport, and the Jo-Carroll Shrine Club. In its origin, Louis was an early member of the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Railroad Credit Union.
Memorials have been established to the First United Methodist Church of Savanna, the Savanna Historical Society, and the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Funeral service, followed by military rites and luncheon will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 19, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church, Savanna.
Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2015, at Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Masonic funeral rites will be accorded at 7:00 p.m. Thursday following the visitation.
Burial will be 3:00 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2015, at the Czech National Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, IA.