Leo Cerny

Anchorage resident Leo Fritz Cerny, 50, died at home in the Man Cave on Dec. 2, 2010.

A funeral will be at 5 p.m. Thursday at Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, 440 E. Klatt Road, with Father Benjamin Torreto of Holy Cross Parish officiating. A visitation will be from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with a Rosary recital at 6 p.m.

Leo was born June 30, 1960, in Dearborn, Mich., and moved to Alaska in the mid-1980s from Seattle.

He was a loving, caring and compassionate son, brother, husband, father and friend. He touched many lives. Leo shared many fond memories of living in Germany and traveling with his family in the U.S. and Europe as a child.

His family loved the mountains and camped, hiked, skied and regularly enjoyed the outdoors together. Leo cherished those times with his family and often spoke of the many good times and adventures they had during his growing-up years.

As a young man, Leo was a superior athlete, winning dozens of awards in track, running and swimming, including a first place in the International Strider Competition, first place in the Joe Martin's 55-mile relay and second place in the grueling and extremely competitive Seward's Folly Run. At 16 he was one of the youngest runners to complete the Seattle marathon, running the race in a little more than two hours.

Leo was an aggressive and daredevil skier. He loved to ski fast, speeding, racing and hitting jumps. He was often the first one down the mountain. Leo passed along his love of skiing and his great sense of adventure to his family, much like his father and mother as ski patrol team members did for him.

Leo attended high school in Seattle and college at Seattle University and the University of Alaska in Anchorage. He loved music, the outdoors, concerts and playing the guitar.

When Leo took his 10-year-old son, Alex, to an Ozzie Osbourne concert, both had a "rock 'n' roll" great time. Leo spoke German and loved to read. He was an excellent teacher to his children and taught them skiing, fishing and basic life skills and, of course, mechanics. He enjoyed the special times of reading to his children when they were young. One of the last things he did was to buy his daughter, Fiona, a special Christmas gift.

Leo really loved high-performance and classic cars, car shows, hydroplane boat races and rock and roll. He loved to tinker in his decked-out garage, aka his Man Cave. He was extremely generous with his time and talent. He was always repairing and fixing family members' and friends' cars, motorcycles and mechanical devices.

Leo loved his family, wife Grace and children above all. He was a man of faith and true to his word. Leo was a loyal friend and a dependable family man.

He was a union Teamster, shop steward, heavy equipment mechanic and facilities operator. Leo received numerous service and work awards.

Leo was a certified handyman and a life member of the Handy Man Club of America. He made homemade beer, enjoyed barbecue cooking and took pride in the care of his yard and gardens.

Leo believed in beer, sex, God and rock and roll. He loved the natural world and the outdoors. He loved flowers and always brought Grace roses, poinsettias and flowering plants for their gardens.

Family and friends called him King Leo, for good reason. He was a good-hearted, generous person and a true Renaissance man.

Leo is survived by his wife of 20 years, Grace Ann Pierce-Cerny; daughter, Fiona Cerny; son, Alexander Cerny; father, Helmut Cerny; mother, Alice Cerny; sister, Missy Brockmeyer and her husband David and their children Madeline and Nicholas; the Pierce family, Frank and life partner Suzie Neilson of Alaska; Jim and wife Debbie; David and wife Ann; Robin Richter and husband Klaus; and Barbara, all of Montana; Molly and husband Fel Bolton of Texas; and Christine of Montana. Leo is also survived by numerous family members in Europe and the U.S.

Leo was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, John Pierce.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel, www.akheritage.com.