Bernard Rudolph Blatny

Bernard Rudolph Blatny, 87, a long time Macedonia area farmer, passed away Saturday April, 13, 2013, at Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was born on August 14, 1925 to Frank and Rose (Majeka) Blatny in Plasi, Nebraska. Bernard, one of seven children, attended school in Morse Bluffs and following school started a long career as a farmer.

Bernard married Leona Mae Rezac on October 19, 1948 in Morse Bluffs and made their first home on a farm near Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. In 1956, they moved to a farm near Council Bluffs, Iowa and in 1959, moved west of Macedonia, Iowa where he farmed until retiring at the age of 70. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Kenneth Dean, Carol Ann, and Gary Lee.

Bernard loved being a farmer and enjoyed all aspects of the farm. He raised livestock and had a grain operation. Early in his farming career, he did custom combining for farmers in the Macedonia area and sold seed for Dekalb. Bernard and Leona were the recipients of the Conservation Farm Award presented by the East Pottawattamie Soil & Water District. Bernard took pride in how his farm looked and people always complimented him on his straight planted corn and bean rows every spring!

Bernard loved his family and always cared for his children and grandchildren. He and Leona always enjoyed going dancing, especially polka dancing. His other interests included farming, dancing, playing cards, planting flowers, traveling to family sporting events, as well as spending time with his family and friends. Bernard moved to Council Bluffs in 2008 and still had the farmer in him, where he enjoyed planting flowers and a few tomatoes every spring. He also remained involved with the leasing of his farm land and kept up to date with the latest farming trends as he enjoyed reading the daily paper, several farm magazines and monitored the farm markets. Additionally you could always find him in his recliner watching football on the weekends. Bernard was also the family meteorologist and always provided his family with the forecast when they spoke or visited. While living in Council Bluffs, he enjoyed having coffee with his neighbors, playing cards with his friends and eating at various restaurants.

Bernard was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Leona of 58 years; brothers, Frank, Joe, Ted, and Ernest; and sisters, Rose and Josephine.

Bernard is survived by sons, Ken Blatny and wife Joyce, and Gary Blatny and wife Tami, all of Omaha; daughter, Carol Pilling and husband Don of Denison, IA; four grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Fran Rezac of Aiken, SC; several nieces and nephews; and a host of special friends.

Private interment in Carson Cemetery.

Memorials to Pottawattamie Chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Loess Hills Funeral Home of Carson in charge of arrangements.