Ernest T. SEMRAD

Enid News and Eagle Garfield Co., OK

07-11-2012

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

© Glenn

A Rosary service for Ernest T. Semrad, Waukomis resident, will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church on Thursday, July 12, 2012. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon on Friday, July 13, 2012. The Revs. Joseph Irwin, Rajesh Mankenna and Marvin Leven will officiate, assisted by Deacon Tony Crispo. Interment will follow in Waukomis cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. Ernest T. Semrad departed this life Monday, July 9, 2012. He was born Dec. 14, 1917, in a two-room house on a farm two miles north of Hennessey, Kingfisher County, to W.R. and Emma Schovanec Semrad.

At the age of 2, he moved with his parents to a farm three miles southeast of Waukomis, where he grew up. He was baptized when an infant at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hennessey and later confirmed at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bison, where he was a member and sang in the choir.

Ernest T. attended Waukomis schools for 12 years, graduating from Waukomis High School in 1935. He was Salutatorian of his class and outstanding senior boy. He was a member of the band and played cornet from junior high through high school. He excelled in oratory throughout high school and in literary oration contests with other schools. He started to farm with horses with his father at an early age. A few times the team spooked and had a runaway and he ran home crying. The next day was spent picking up harness pieces over the field and putting them back together. He raised registered Hereford cattle, exhibiting them at local and national shows. He was a member of the 4-H Club and Garfield County 4-H livestock judging team, winning high honors at state and local shows.

He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, where he has been an usher and greeter for 30 years. He belonged to St. Francis Men's Club, Knights of Columbus and the Moose Lodge. He was a member of the Catholic Workman Lodge, Branch No. 67 and received his 50-plus year membership pin many years ago.

Surviving are his beloved wife, Marie; three sons and daughters-in-law, Myron and Marilyn Semrad, McKinney, Texas; Rodney and Janice Semrad, Waukomis, Okla.; Dr. Sidney and Angela Semrad, Mesa, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Edward, Sally, Stacy, Rachel, Sean and Holly; and six great-grandchildren, Braden, Lauren, Miley, Bentley, Kru and Cade.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, (Leon, Robert and Vernon) and two sisters, (Dorothy Markes and infant sister Alice).