Jerome L. Ostry, 81, of Prague, NE, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Villa in David City, NE.  He was born October 13, 1942 in Prague, NE, the youngest of eight children, to Louis and Lydia (Humlicek) Ostry.  Jerome attended Prague Public School for his first two years of school and then attended St. John Catholic School in Prague through the eighth grade.  He graduated from Prague High School in 1960.

He enlisted in the Nebraska Air National Guard in 1962.  After a tour of training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, Jerome was discharged in 1968.  He continued farming the family farm that was settled by his grandparents, Frank and Marie Ostry.

On October 3, 1970, Jerome was united in marriage to Mary Ann Rerucha at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Bruno, NE by Rev. Stanley Schieffer.  To this union a son, Mark, was born.

Jerome was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Prague and he was a member of FCSLA Branch WO13, serving as a past trustee.  He served on the board of the Farmers Union CO-OP elevator in Prague for 26 years and the secretary for 23 years.  He was an insurance agent and on the board of Farmers Mutual United Insurance Company in Wahoo for almost 40 years.

Jerome enjoyed farming.  He received the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award in 1979 from the Knights of AK-SAR-BEN for having a farm in the family for 100 years or more.

He also enjoyed listening to Czech music and singing Czech songs and taking family vacations.  Jerome and Mary Ann were fortunate to have traveled to the Czech Republic twice and found 23 of their ancestral villages and homes where their grandparents and great-grandparents were born and lived before immigrating to America.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann Ostry; son, Mark Ostry of Bruno, NE; sisters, Marie Havlovic of David City, NE and Edith Sousek of Morse Bluff, NE; brother, Herman Ostry of Bruno, NE; brothers-in-law, Frank Sousek of Prague, NE and Leonard Snitily of Prague, NE; many nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Lydia Ostry; parents-in-law, Henry and Emma Rerucha; sisters, Irene Snitily, Angela Sousek, Georgia Ostry and Loretta Snitily; sister-in-law, Donna Ostry; brothers-in-law, Joe Havlovic, Edward Sousek and Emil Snitily; niece, Marlene Veik; nephews, Clarence Snitily and Marvin Sousek.