Ralph Cerny, 93, of Denton, Texas, born Sept. 9, 1921, in Centralia, Ill., died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015.Ralph was the eldest of six children. He was an active member of St. Mark Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council 12553, which he started in 1999.Ralph enlisted in the Illinois National Guard in 1938 and then began service in the United States Army 132nd Infantry in 1941. He was a well decorated World War II veteran, serving as a platoon sergeant, combat infantryman and marksman rifleman in the South Pacific and Solomon Islands. Ralph was awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon, American Defense Service Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Battle Stars and five Overseas Service Bars. He was three times commander of VFW Post 1117, Caseyville, Ill. He loved his churches, St. Stephen in Caseyville, Ill., Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, Texas, and finally St. Mark in Denton, Texas. Ralph was always involved and volunteered for numerous ministries. He was a good father, grandfather and great-grandfather and friend to many. He will be deeply missed. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Frances, nee Lamczyk, Cerny, whom he married on Jan. 20, 1945, in Radom, Ill.; his parents, Louis and Emma Cerny; brother, Jerry; two sisters, Rita and Marilyn; and his son-in-law, James Lager. Surviving are his five children, David Cerny (Kathy) of Granite City, Ill., Robert Cerny (Shirley) of St. Jacob, Ill., Karen Cerny Lager (the late James Lager) of Breese, Ill., Helen Cerny-Gerstein (Don) of Frisco, Colo., and Janet Cerny Caouette (Gene) of Flower Mound, Texas; a brother, Don (Norma) of Rockledge, Fla.; a sister, Mildred Lenz of Rolling Meadows, Ill.; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and his beloved pug, "Ralph's Buddy Boy". In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark Council of the Knights of Columbus in Ralph's name. Funeral: Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Mo., at a later date.