NAVRATIL, Benjamin E. 1915 - 2013

NAVRATIL, KRAUBETZ, BEDNAR, ARP, BAKER

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 1/2/2018 at 11:35:08

Benjamin E. Navratil, 98, of Plymouth died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home.

A funeral service for Ben will be held 2 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 5, 2014) at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, with Pastor Jason Miner from the Mason City Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow in the Bohemian Cemetery, Plymouth.

A visitation with a public viewing will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home on Sunday.

Should friends desire, memorials may be sent to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 Second St. S.E., Mason City.

Benjamin E. Navratil, son of Rudolph and Mary (Kraubetz) Navratil was born Jan. 30, 1915, on his family farm in Worth County. He attended school in Plymouth and began working as a farm hand for a rural farmer in Manly and was also involved with the daily operations on his family farm.

On Aug. 7, 1937, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Lilian Bednar, and to this union the couple would be blessed with three children: LeRoy, Mary and Jeanne.

As he continued farming, he worked as a carpenter for many years in the construction business working in several North Iowa communities before retiring in 1971 due to health issues. However, health issues didn't slow Ben down as he was a regional entertainer and musically oriented. Both he and Lilian spent over 33 years playing the fiddle and other instruments for care facilities and participated in several local parades.

Ben enjoyed attending blue grass festivals and had a passion working with his hands. He was well known for his talented millwork, creating custom handcrafted saws and windmills; and repaired antique clocks.

He was a member of the Local Carpenter Union 1313 in Mason City.

Left to cherish Ben's memory are his wife of 76 years, Lilian Navratil, Plymouth; children, LeRoy (Carol) Navratil and Mary (Don) Baker, both of Mason City, and Jeanne Arp, Plymouth; grandchildren, Jeanette (Don) Ewing, Randy (Dawn) Navratil, and David (Amy) Navratil all of Plymouth, Sandi (Todd) Lincoln, Prior Lake, Minn., Rosalee Paul, Swaledale, Jacque Mormann, Cedar Falls, Mark Baker, Thornton, Angie (Tony) Furbush, Rockwell and John (Michelle) Arp of Mason City; 30 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Scott Baker; nephew, Richard Navratil; six brothers and three sisters.