OXFORD – Joseph Cerny, 96, of Oxford, died Tuesday, July 29, at his residence with his loving wife by his side.

He was born on May 10, 1912, in Manhattan, N.Y., to Rudolf and Marie (Kreider) Cerny, who were from the Czech Republic.

Joe was predeceased by his first wife, Lillian, to whom he had been married for more than 50 years. He later married Deborah Swasey in 1989.

He worked for Topics Publishing Co. from 1928 until his retirement in 1970. He started out as an office boy and worked his way up to the position of business manager.

He came with his family to Maine each summer starting in 1954, and stayed at Shepards Camp on Lake Pennesseewassee. He retired to Maine in 1971, and opened the Frame Shop and Art Supply Center in Oxford. He was a gifted artist and loved farming.

He joined the Norway-Paris Kiwanis Club, serving as treasurer for more than 30 years. During his tenure, he received the Charlie Goodspeed Award, the Legion of Honor, Life Member Award and the 2004 Red Jacket Award for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Institute.

He was a member of SCORE for more than 25 years. He loved children, his country and his church. He was a deacon, an honorary deacon and a trustee of the Second Congregational Church of Norway. He was one of the three kings in “Christmas in a Small Town” for 16 years. In 2005, he received the Boston Post Cane Award from the town of Oxford.

He and Deb have six children between them, Carol and Dick Flick of Vassalboro, Lorraine Day of Kingman, Ariz., Tammy Shepard of Lubbock, Texas, Dean and Karen Hughes of Woodlands, Texas, Timothy and Lisa Hughes of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Deanna and Jim Brown of Camp Verde, Ariz.; grandchildren, Lauren Gluech, Craig and Valerie Gluech, Philip and Orquidea Wiemers, Christopher and Melissa Vargas, Jennifer Vargas, Lindsey and Elyse Shepard, Marc, Kritan and Matt Hughes and Katie and Sarah Hughes; great-grandchildren, Seth and Kevin Wiemers, Molly and Ethan Gluech and Stella, Trinity, Christopher and Gentry Vargas; nieces, Marilyn Tukis and Ann Shamroth; nephew, Richard Cerny; Godchild, Wendy Penley and husband, Richard and son, Colin.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Bertha; and his brothers, Rudolph and Frank.