William James “Bill” Jerabek, Jr., 91, of St. Paul, died Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell. The Rev. Vince Parsons will celebrate the Mass. Burial will follow in St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul and the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.

A parish rosary will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, October 19, at the church, with visitation to follow from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be given to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church or its cemetery.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting Bill’s family.

Bill was born on October 13, 1935, on the family farm near Farwell, the son of William Sr. and Frances (Bogacz) Jerabek. He attended Howard County rural school near Farwell and graduated from Farwell High School with the class of 1954.

After graduation, he worked as a hired hand for Mettenbrink Cattle Company in Grand Island. Bill enlisted in the United States Army and served from December 3, 1958, to November 30, 1964. While in the service, Bill married the love of his life, Bertha Evelyn Larchick, on April 20, 1959, at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. From June 1959 to June 1960, the couple lived in Neu-Ulm, Germany, where Bill was stationed.

Bill began farming with his father at the age of 19 and continued until his father’s passing in 1969. He then farmed on his own until his sons were old enough to join him.

Bill and Bertha lived and farmed outside of Farwell until moving to St. Paul in 2002. Bill continued farming until his retirement in 2007.

Bill served on the Farwell Public School Board from 1966 to 1978. He was a lifelong member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Farwell and a member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 1918 of St. Paul.

Bill loved farming, enjoyed all Nebraska Cornhusker sports, and was a longtime Nebraska football season ticket holder.

He is survived by his wife, Bertha of St. Paul; his children and their spouses, Kelly and Dan Scheer of St. Paul, Randy and Lisa Jerabek of St. Paul, Kristine Lewin of Omaha, and Ryan and Lisa Jerabek of Farwell; his sister and brother-in-law, Maryann and Jim Lukasiewicz of Omaha; 10 grandchildren, Chris, Derick, Andrew, Bailey, Austin, Cole, Cleo, Grant, Tahya and Grace; and eight great-grandchildren, Kenley, Hank, Violet, Holt, Ensley, Lucy, Julia and Emerson, with another due in March.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Dave Lukasiewicz.