Darrell E. Vondrak 1942 - 2018

LAMOUREUX, VONDRAK, CULVER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -- Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/6/2018 at 08:47:40

Sioux City Journal
3 April 2018

Sioux City

Darrell E. Vondrak, 75, of Sioux City, passed away Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home following a courageous 12-year battle with Parkinson's disease after having twice survived kidney cancer.

Visitation with the family will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a rosary at 4 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be directed to meyerbroschapels.com.

Darrell, the son of Francis and Marguerite (Lamoureux) Vondrak, was born on Oct. 14, 1942, in Sioux City. He attended St. Michael's School in Leeds and graduated from Heelan High School in 1961. He served in both the Iowa Air National Guard and the Army National Guard with his primary unit being the 185th Tactical Fighter Group. He later attended Upper Iowa University and the University of Minnesota, where he earned a degree in healthcare administration.

Darrell married Susan Culver on Nov. 25, 1967, in Sioux City. He was the administrator of Manning General Hospital from 1974 to 1984, CEO of Palo Alto County Hospital from 1984 to 2005 in Emmetsburg, Iowa, and CEO of Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa, from 2005 until his retirement in 2009. Following his retirement, he moved to Sioux City, where he lived until his death.

He was a member of Rotary Club and the Iowa Hospital Association. Darrell enjoyed horses and working on his acreage. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and taking them to get coffee and donuts.

Darrell is survived by his son, Jeff Vondrak of Le Mars, Iowa, and his children, Chase, Hailey, Hunter, and Taylor; son, Steve Vondrak and his wife, Mary of San Clemente, Calif., and their son, Stone; daughter, Kerry Knudsen of Osage, Iowa, and her children, Mia and Max; Susan Vondrak, who was his wife of 42 years and then his devoted caretaker throughout his illness; brother, Lynn Vondrak of North Sioux City; sister, Jolene Siedelmann and her husband, Greg of Omaha; two sisters-in-law, Iveta Kerber of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Judy Vondrak of Galva, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Arley and Ron Vondrak; infant brother, Larry; and sister-in-law, Jane Vondrak.