Ernest Robert (Ernie) Navrkal, Sr. Age 85, of Sioux City, IA., died May 17, 2017. Services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 23rd, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sioux City, with Rev. Brent Lingle officiating. Burial will be at Silver Ridge Cemetery, rural Ponca, NE. with Military Rites provided by United States Army and by the American Legion Post 175 of Jackson. Visitation will be 4-8 Monday, May 22, 2017 at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Avenue, with the family present from 6-8 pm and the Vigil Service at 7 pm.

Ernest R. Navrkal Sr. was born June 13, 1931 in Cedar Bluffs, NE. son of Frank and Julia (Chalupa) Navrkal. He lived in Saunders, Wayne, and Dakota County, NE, and graduated from Hubbard, NE. High School in 1948. Ernest was inducted into the Army in May of 1952. Served in Okinawa and received an Honorable separation in May 1954, and was later discharged in 1960.

He married Stella Yusten on September 11, 1954 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponca, NE. To this union was born two sons and two daughters. Ernie worked as a farm hand and was then a self employed farmer in the area before coming to Sioux City. Ernie worked at North American Mfg as a machine operator for 13 years then Home Federal Savings, First Federal, (Now Great Southern Bank) as building engineer, custodian at St. Michaels School and First Congregational church in Sioux City. After open heart surgery in 1994, he retired and moved to Sioux City.

Ernie was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church since 1970, where he enjoyed attending services and helping with bingo set up. He was also a member of the American Legion at Jackson, NE and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Sioux City, IA. He also enjoyed woodworking, animals, gardening, and spending quality time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife Stella of 62 years, two sons Bob (Linda) Navrkal of Hinton, IA., Jim (Kelly) Navrkal of Sioux City, IA., one daughter Barbara (Ken) Culliton of Sioux City, IA., a son-in-law Mark McClain of Dallas, TX; seven grandchildren Andrew, Adam McClain both of Dallas, TX; Jason Navrkal, Justin (Jackie)Navrkal both of Hinton IA; Chris Cramer, Mike (Sami Fowler) Cramer, Amanda Cramer, all of Sioux City, IA; two step grandsons Zachary Kee, Gregory Vennard of Sioux City, IA; nine great grandchildren Jordan (Courtney) Navrkal -Hess , Faith and Jaykub Cramer, Amelia Cramer, Brayden Sanchez, Sophie and Grayson Cramer, Mia Cramer, all of Sioux City, IA., Keaton Foreman of Hinton, IA; three brothers Ray (Dorothy) Navrkal of Jackson, NE; Frank (Lois) Navrkal of Sioux City, IA; Melvin (Jennie) Navrkal of Wakefield, NE; sisters, Katherine (Kenny) Hoffman of Westfield, IA; Irene (Jim) Uhl of Frazee, MN; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved daughter, Beverly Joanne McClain, his brother Emil Navrkal, and sister Julie Uhl.