Darlene Grace Navratil, 94, passed away Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at the Legacy Estates in Lincoln.
Darlene was born to Joseph and Emma (Rezabek) Prasek on July 13, 1929, in Crete. She graduated from Crete High School in 1947. Darlene married Marv Navratil of rural Crete on June 1, 1949. They had four children: Ron, Bonnie, Ken, and Dan. Darlene was a busy wife and mother. She served as her children’s 4-H leader and chief cheerleader, encouraging all four children to work hard and strive to be and do their best. Darlene worked alongside Marv on their family farm and also worked part-time at Fritz’s House of Fabrics while the children were still at home. She retired after over 20 years of service as the administrative assistant at the Lancaster County Cooperative Extension Service.
Darlene and Marv lived in Cheney until December 2018, when they moved to the Legacy Estates in Lincoln. Marv passed away in March 2020 after 70 years of marriage.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Marv Navratil; her sons, Ken and Dan Navratil; daughter-in-law, Connie Navratil; her parents, Joseph and Emma Prasek; and her sisters, Lorraine Prasek and Leona Pomajzl. She is survived by her son, Ron Navratil of Lincoln; grandchildren, Tina (Cleve) Reeves of Lincoln and Katie Navratil (Kyle Torczon) of Omaha; daughter, Bonnie (Cal) Paschold of Firth; grandchildren Jennifer (Andrew) Voss of Louisville, Sarah (Jared) Goertzen of Henderson, and Erika Paschold (Michael Wunder) of Lincoln; grandchildren, Alan and Jessica Navratil of Lincoln; nine great-grandchildren; sister, JoAnne Krenk of Crete; sisters-in-law, Beth Navratil of Crete and Ana Lou (Larry) Roth of Omaha; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
The funeral service was Dec. 11. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Cheney United Methodist Church.
