Dr. Frank J. Cerny

Dr. Frank Joseph Cerny, 91, of Northfield, MN, died on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at the Northfield Hospital.

The only child of Frank Joseph Cerny and Marie (Vonashek) Cerny of Chicago, Illinois, he was born on November 8, 1916. Graduated from Loyola University School of Medicine, Chicago in 1939. Following an Internship at Loretto Hospital and Residencies at Presbyterian Hospital and Municipal Contagious Disease Hospital, all in Chicago, he was drafted into the United States Army serving principally in Dayton, Ohio from 1944 to 1946 detached to Veterans Administration.

Married Viola “Peg” V McNeel, Salina, KS, on November 8, 1942 at Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL.

Following discharge from the U.S. Army in 1946, Frank moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to set-up his ophthalmology practice at the Fond du Lac Clinic and as a member of the Surgical Staff of St. Agnes Hospital. Professional affiliations included membership in the American Medical Association, American Board of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, Wisconsin Medical Society, Fond du Lac County Medical Society (Past President), Wisconsin Upper Michigan Society of Ophthalmology (Past President), State Medical Society Committee on Religion and Medicine, Christian Medical Society (CSM) and two terms as the Regional Delegate to the International Congress of Christian Physicians. He retired from medicine in 1989.

Along with Peg, a Registered Nurse, they participated in overseas medical mission experience with the Sudan Interior Mission Eye Hospital in Kano, Nigeria (1962, ’64, ’74), Phebe Hospital, Liberia (’74, ’78, ’79, ’80), Taxila Christian Hospital, West Pakistan (’66), Sisters of St. Agnes Clinic, Waspam, Nicaragua (’77), Bluefields, Nicaragua (’91), Kissy Eye Clinic, Sierra Leone (’85), as well as short term missions with the CMS to Honduras, Taiwan, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and India.

Frank passionately enjoyed music as an accomplished pianist, as well as playing the oboe, cello, organ and accordion. While living in Fond du Lac he was a member of the Badger, Green Bay, and Oshkosh Symphony Orchestras, and received the Magnificat Award in 1983 from Marion College and the Rotarian Paul Harris Fellowship in 1986.

From his home, the “Citadel,” on the west shore of Lake Winnebago he also sailed, skated, boated, canoed, played tennis and softball. He was a member, ruling Elder and Assistant Organist of the First Presbyterian Church in Fond du Lac. In 1989 he left Fond du Lac to move to Northfield, Minnesota.

In Northfield he was a member of the Masonic Lodge #48, serving as Chaplin and Rotary International where he was named an Honorary Member. He also played the organ and piano for the Moravian Church.

He is survived by his wife, four children, six grandchildren and one great grand child: daughter Susan Bauer (Gene) of Northfield; son Frank (Nancy) of East Aurora, NY plus children Hans (Chrisana and child Jack) of Salt Lake City, UT, Peter (Ariana) of Amherst, NY and Scott of East Aurora; son Glen (Susan) of Las Cruces, NM and children Kristopher of Jackson Heights, NY, Kyle of Bowling Green, OH and Kevin of Bowling Green, OH; and son Dean (John Ehlert) of Kanab, UT.

Visitation at 3:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 17, funeral following at 4:00pm. Arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to:

World Medical Mission
Salvations Purse
P.O Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607