Col. Joseph "Joe" P. Cerny

July 4, 1927 - December 4, 2012 Colonel Joseph (Joe) P. Cerny July 4, 1927 - December 4, 2012 “Head Tiger” Survived by loving and treasured wife of 63 years Dorothy; daughters and their spouses Darah and Thomas Basham and Janet and William Thigpen; grandchildren and their spouses Emily and Benjamin Fassbaugh and David and Robin Basham; granddaughter Tanya Thigpen and grandson Sean Thigpen; great-granddaughters Charlotte, Trinity, and Genevive. Also survived by sister Anne Soukenik, sister-in-law Nancy Cerny ,nieces , nephews ,grandnieces and grandnephew and a large community of very special friends, golf buddies and comrades at arms. Joe enjoyed golf, long walks with his dog, tending his rose garden and politics. He was a friend to some, mentor to many a young airman and hero to his family. Joe was a history buff, a weatherman and a carpenter. He cherished time with his family and taught his girls how to dance, swim in the ocean, spike volleyballs, throw baseballs and jump rope. He insured his daughters could change a tire and park a car. He flew with the eagles and danced with the devils. He could command a missile wing or rock a baby to sleep. He could be thousands of miles away in the middle of a war and still find a way to help his 8 yr old daughter with her science project. In short he was a father, a husband, a soldier, a man. Born the oldest son of immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Anton and Antonia Cerny. He learned the value of honor, commitment and how to love unconditionally without reservation at an early age. His marriage was a true love story, filled with raw emotion, suspense, extremely high highs and low lows. Joe moved his family around a lot, trying to keep them as close and comfortable as the Air Force would allow. He met Dorothy when she was 14 yrs old. They attended rival high schools. Even then they had similar interests. Both being leaders of competing marching squads of Civil Air patrol cadets. Joe always said he liked Dorothy from the start but it took about 6 yrs and 2 wars before Dorothy would submit to his charm. Every day until the day he died he would tell her and anyone else that would listen how much he loved her. Every night before he would get into bed, Joe would kiss her, tell her how much he loved her and wish her sweet dreams. Dorothy was truly the love of Joe's life. He served his country with distinction. In the United States Air Force for 35 years, he flew in Bombers in WWII and served in Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. His career was highlighted by command positions in North Dakota and Arizona. He served as Assistant Deputy Commander and then the Deputy Commander of Maintenance in the 319th Bomb Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota and then as the Wing Commander of the 390th Strategic Missile Wing in Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona before finishing his career at the Strategic Air Commands Headquarters outside of Omaha, Nebraska. He joined the Army Air Core as a private in 1945 and retired from the Air Force as Full Colonel in 1980. He went to work for Lockheed Martin in Colorado to help with the B1 and space shuttle and retired there in August 1992. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in political science at University of Maryland and a Master's Degree from University of Alabama while attending War College. Joseph will be laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Thursday Jan. 3, 2013 at 11:00am. Instead of flowers please make a donation in Joseph's name to your favorite cause or charity. Joe led a life that many aspire to but few achieve. His moral compass was uncompromising and his love for family and nation was unwavering. His family will miss him, but his life was a blessing. He is running with the tigers where he truly belongs.