Ernest C. Petry

Ernest "Ernie" Petry was born on May 31, 1946 to Fern and William Petry in Omaha, Nebraska. Ernie attended Western Hills Elementary School, Monroe Middle School and Benson High School. 

Ernie met his sweetheart in Kindergarten and got married to Janice Doukas on January 09, 1965. They had 3 wonderful children Sandy Petry (Randy Fox), Jeff Petry (Tanya Petry), and Christine Coughlin (Tim Coughlin). Ernie has 4 grandchildren Ashley Schrad (Tim Schrad), Kayla Coughlin (Connor Wilson), Troy Coughlin, and Jayden Petry. Ernie has 3 great grandchildren Peyton Gatzemeyer, Krystopher and Kaid Schrad. Ernie is preceded in death by his parents, Fern and William Petry, his sweetheart Jan Petry, his brother Billy Petry and his son Troy Petry. 

During his high school years, Ernie and his friends worked on cars in the garage. Ernie and his buddies continued their friendship through their adult years, where they took trips to Canada to fish, camping, and log splitting. Ernie was an avid outdoorsman, Husker fan and enjoyed watching Westerns on Sundays. Ernie could be found in his garden, in the garage working on his next wood piece, or fishing on the resort in Minnesota. Ernie was proud of his "children" and was all of their biggest fan. 

As a family go-cart racing became a family past time, where it created fans of NASCAR in all members of the family. 

Ernie started as a cement finisher at the age of 16. He continued this career for 30+ years when he retired in 2009. He retired as an employee of Kiewitt. There are many monumental places in Omaha that Ernie laid cement that include the zoo, Childrens Hospital, and many more. 

Ernie will be greatly missed by all who have known him, but his legacy will live on.