Joseph Vsetecka was born March 21, 1921, in Ash Valley, Kansas to Emil and Amelia (Zaboj) Vsetecka. He passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 89. His heart gave out but not his spirit.


On January 8, 1945, Joe was united in marriage to Elsie Oborny in Timken, Kansas. Elsie predeceased him in death on December 24, 2009. Joe and Elsie were blessed with two children, Donald and Lana. Joe and Elsie lived in Great Bend, Kansas until 1954, when they moved to WaKeeney, Kansas where they lived until March 2007 when they moved to Colorado Springs to live near their two children, Don and Lana, and their four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.


Joe enjoyed polka dancing, motorcycling, water skiing, woodworking, hunting and fishing, and his family. He and Elsie were avid polka dancers and were long-time active members of the Sunflower Polka Club in western Kansas. For his 80th birthday, son Don gave him a new red motor scooter which he rode everywhere, popping "wheelies" and doing "figure 8's", and at age 82, he upgraded to a small motorcycle that he rode as well, until he and Elsie moved to Colorado Springs in 2007.


Joe served as an enlisted man in the United States Navy during World War II (1942-1945) and was stationed primarily on the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. He was honorably discharged in 1945. Joe was always very proud of his military service during WWII. Prior to his serving in the Navy, Joe worked in the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC Camps) in Idaho. After his discharge from the Navy, Joe and Elsie lived in Great Bend, Kansas, where he worked in the flourmill, then as an auto mechanic, and then many years as a pumper in the oil field business, moving to WaKeeney, Kansas in 1954, where they lived until they moved to Colorado Springs.


Joe was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in WaKeeney, Kansas.


Survivors include his son, Don Vsetecka and companion, Rochelle Stasi, and her four adult daughters, Stephanie, Shannon, Sami, and Suzi of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado; his daughter, Lana Schymos and husband, John, and twin boys, Kyle and Will, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandson, Kirk Vsetecka and wife, Tracy, and great-grandchildren Johnathon, Abby, and Ryan; granddaughter, Kristen Baldwin and husband, Matt, and great-grandchildren, Kailey and Casey; and brothers, Leonard Vsetecka and Bill Vsetecka, and sister, Helen Suchy.


Preceding him in death were brothers Emil, Edward, B.F., and Victor.


Joe was very devoted to his family, especially after moving to Colorado Springs where he was close to them all. His values, sense of responsibility, and work ethic were matched only by his congeniality and sense of humor. He made people smile wherever he went. He will be missed by so many whose lives he touched with his open and friendly way with people."

Visitation will be 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Friday, at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney, KS.

Services for Joe will be held 10:30 AM, Friday, February 4, 2011 in Christ the King Catholic Church with Father Donald Pfannenstiel officiating. Interment is in the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery at WaKeeney.