Doris Arlene Vacek

Doris Arlene Vacek. Dotsy A. Vacek, 90, of Greenwood Village, passed away peacefully on November 9th, 2022, with loving family by her side. Doris Arlene Kerl (Dotsy) was born May 12, 1932 in Pawnee City, Nebraska to Aubrey Willson Kerl and Ruth Elizabeth McFerrin. The product of two strong, hardworking families, she grew up in a farming family that traces lineage over nine generations through a long line of Methodist ministers to the Revolutionary War. She was a woman born of deep faith roots and a fourth great granddaughter of the American Revolution.

Dotsy graduated from Pawnee City High School and earned her teaching certificate from Peru State College. She taught at The Sheridan School, a rural country school, before meeting and marrying the love of her life, John R. Vacek. The two of them taught school in both Nebraska and Wyoming before John entered Dental School. Upon John’s graduation from Dental School in 1957, he and Dotsy refurbished a farmhouse in Littleton, Colorado where John practiced Dentistry and Dotsy took care of their family which grew to five children and many animals. In Dotsy’s words, “if it needed food, we owned it!”.

Taking care of her family, including Dad, was her life’s work and her greatest joy. As Dotsy said, in a journal entry, “Summertime at our big house was filled with family and friends. At least 12 people around the dining table every day. With John as our fearless leader, coach and cheering section, our family camped, hiked, backpacked, skied, played tennis, and golfed. We also enjoyed music, theatre and travel.” She notes she did reserve time to play with some “wild and crazy” friends whose unfailing support is valued to this day.

She was preceded in death by her late husband, Dr. John R. Vacek. She is survived by her children Dotsy Moroney, Janet Rose’, John R Vacek II, Jill Brugioni and Amy Smith; her grandchildren Megan Gunnufson, Matthew Moroney, Margaret Lam, Patrick Rose’, Kathryn Gabrielli, Anna Sedgwick, Daniel Brugioni, John R. Vacek III, Everett Vacek, William Vacek, Benjamin Vacek, Andrew Smith, Jillian Smith, Sarah Smith; great-grandchildren Aubrey Gunnufson, Garrett Gunnufson, Theodore Gabrielli, James Gabrielli, Eleanor Sedgwick and Emma Sedgwick and her sister Carolee Kroll.

A devoted wife, mother to all, grandmother, aunt, sister and friend – she was always the life of the party. She brought light and life to every gathering and wisdom and generosity to all situations. She leaves a tremendous legacy and will be deeply missed.

A short memorial will be held in her honor at Fort Logan National Cemetery on December 9th at twelve o’clock in the afternoon. A reception immediately following the ceremony will take place at the home of Daniel and Jill Brugioni in Greenwood Village, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Porter Hospice Foundation, c/o The John and Dotsy Vacek Memorial Fund, 950 E Harvard Avenue, suite 230, Denver, Colorado 80210. Please contact the family for details on the memorial and celebration of life.

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