Lambert "Bert" Perina, 103, of Birmingham, Alabama, formerly of Clarkson, Nebraska, died Sunday, September 21, 2025, in Birmingham.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 30, at New Zion Presbyterian Church in Clarkson. Visitation will be on Monday, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM and continue Tuesday, from 10:00 AM until service time, all at the church. Interment with military honors will be in Clarkson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Clarkson Opera House, Clarkson Museum, or the donor's choice.

Lambert Joseph Perina was born south of Clarkson on June 25, 1922, to Josef and Emma (Kvetensky) Perina.  At the age of six months the family moved to a farm that they had purchased, four and one half miles northeast of Creston, Nebraska.  He attended grade school in District 20, rural Stanton County, and graduated from Madison High School in 1939.  He graduated from Lincoln School of Commerce in 1941.  Following the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program earning his Navy Wings of Gold in 1942.  He served in World War II from 1942 until 1946 as a Marine Air Corps fighter/ photo reconnaissance pilot in the Asiatic/ Pacific Theatre of War. His duty stations were Okinawa, Korea, and Tsingtao, China.  Upon release from active duty, he attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Vocational Education. Bert taught in Clarkson High School from 1950 to February of 1952, at which time he was recalled to active military service during the Korean War.  He served in Korea for 13 months as a jet fighter/ photo reconnaissance pilot with the United States Marine Corps.  During his service he was awarded the following medals – Korean Service, United Nations Service, National Defense, and Republic of Korea. While living in Alabama, Bert was interviewed for WWII Portraits of Honor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAAWSGDa4-4

On August 17, 1947, Lambert was united in marriage to Delores M. Matthies at New Zion Presbyterian Church in Clarkson, with Reverend B.A. Filipi officiating.

Upon release from active duty in 1954 he returned to the University of Nebraska and completed his master's degree in Secondary Education in 1955.  He joined the workforce of the Civil Aeronautics Administration (now known as the Federal Aviation Administration) in June 1955 as an Air Traffic Control Tower Specialist and was assigned to the Sioux Falls, South Dakota airport control tower.  He was later promoted to a personnel specialist position in Kansas City, Missouri. Where he remained for 21 years in a variety of managerial positions.  He also remained in the Marine Corps organized reserves and retired from the Marines in 1973 after obtaining the rank of Colonel.  He amassed over 4000 hours of flying time in 32 different types of airplanes.  He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1979, when he and his wife moved back to Clarkson.

Lambert was a lifelong member of New Zion Presbyterian Church where he served terms as Elder and was a member of the Lyra Choir for almost 30 years.  He served the Clarkson community in many areas: President of the Board of Education, Clarkson School District #58; President of ZCBJ Lodge #28; Adjutant/ Quartermaster of VFW Post 6419; Commander of VFW District 15; State Chaplain for the VFW Department of Nebraska; Adjutant/ Quartermaster for Clarkson American Legion Post 188; Clarkson Historical Society Board of Directors; Clarkson City Planning Commission; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Clarkson Low Income Housing Authority; President of Lions Club; Colfax County Veterans Services Committee, and many other local and county special committees.  Lambert also served as President of the Parent-Teacher Organization in Overland Park, Kansas, as well as a Boy Scout leader.   He was named Czech festival "Krajan" in 1995 and was awarded the Clarkson Commercial Club's Outstanding Community Service plaque in 2001.

Lambert is survived by son Martin (Linda) Perina of Windsor, CT; son Dean Perina of Birmingham, AL; grandsons Chris (Anna) Perina of San Antonio, TX, Clay (Abbie) Perina of Paolo, KS, and Michael Perina of Enfield, CT; granddaughter Elizabeth (John) Doherty of Raymore, MO; great grandchildren Jessica, Tristan, Georgia, Dalton, Lindsey, Colton, and Lukas; many nieces and nephews.

Lambert was preceded in death by his wife, Delores, on March 19, 2016, after almost 69 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mildred.