Bruce A. Dvoracek
Bruce A. Dvoracek, age 69, of Lesterville, South Dakota, died Friday, August 5, 2022, as a result of a car accident.
Funeral services will be 9:00 AM on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at Martinus Lutheran Church in Utica, South Dakota with Reverend Dean Schroeder officiating. Following the funeral, there will be a tribute to Bruce by his drag racing community before the burial. The public is invited to attend the burial which will be at 1:00 PM in the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Visitation is from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at Martinus Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. The family will be present for the prayer service and will visit with friends following the service. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, South Dakota.
Pallbearers are: Michael Dvoracek, Darren Bahnson, Jarod Guthmiller, Cory Slykhuis, Cory Heckenlaible, and Darrin Bierle.
Bruce A. Dvoracek was born October 28, 1952, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, South Dakota, to Alvin and Fonda (Ferwerda) Dvoracek. He was baptized on November 30, 1952 and graduated from Bon Homme High School in 1970. He then entered into the United States Navy, serving during the Vietnam era. Bruce married Sharon Marie Kolecka and were blessed with two children: Michael Edward and Crystal Marie. Bruce was a dedicated, hard worker and was employed by Gavins Point Dam as a Senior Controller.
Bruce had two important loves in his life, his family and his passion for drag racing. He was a loving and giving father and grandfather, who cared deeply and openly for his family. He was a born leader, protector and provider. He was a member of Martinus Lutheran Church in Utica, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Those who will cherish his memory are his wife, Sharon Marie of Lesterville, South Dakota; his son, Michael Dvoracek and grandson, Jax of Harrisburg, South Dakota; daughter, Crystal (Darren) Bahnson and Baby Bahnson due October 27th of Fort Shaw, Montana; daughter, Corinna Huggins and grandsons: Tanner and Carson Fridrich; and sister, Ruby Ann (Rodney) Guthmiller of Lesterville as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.
Bruce will be missed by so many he was a great friend
Sharon and family, we are praying for your family and friends during this time of grief and sorrow. RIP Bruce!
Sharon, Michael and Crystal, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I want to believe there is a race track in heaven and therefore Bruce will continue his racing there. RIP Bruce. God Bless you all.
Great friend and coworker. Always could count that Bruce put smile on your face. Going miss Bruce.
Sharon and Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you during these difficult times.
God Bless,
Sharon and family — our prayers go out to you all as our hearts are breaking for you. With deepest sympathies.
Sharon and Family: Bruce was my best friend and co-worker during his years at Ft. Randall and I will miss him beyond what words can describe. He was alway there for me when I needed help and he was a kind man that always had a story about his family. Of course we pulled a few pranks on each other at work but it was what helped us keep our sanity. When coming home from Sioux Falls or Yankton, he was a phone call away. I spoke to him last probably two weeks ago on a trip home and we spoke of his race car and the fact that his retirement was coming soon. Bruce will always be a fond memory of mine and know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Bruce was an amazing person. He was able to say the right thing at the exact moment, it was needed. We are blessed and extremely humbled for the time we got to spend with him.
God , please take care of Sharon and her family for the major loss in their lives. There is never enough a person can say to truly show that you care. God bless you all… please remember that he loved you all.
I enjoyed working with Bruce. He always seemed to take interest in what you had going on but you could usually get a racing story or two. He was also very proud of his family and enjoyed giving updates. I enjoyed his knowledge and will miss his laugh.
Dear Sharon & family, there is not enough words to say how sorry We are to hear of your loss. God bless you all. Remember you are loved. Sincerely, Debra Affeldt
Sharon and Family, So sad to hear about Bruce. Our sympathy and prayers are with you at this difficult time. God be with you.
Bruce was a friend and colleague of mine at Gavin’s Point powerhouse. He was a brilliant guy who shared his knowledge and some great stories. RIP Bruce
Bruce made life better for people around him. Good friend and coworker. Praying for the family that they can find some peace in this tragedy. RIP Bruce.
Sharon and family – our thoughts and prayers to all of you during this time. Blessings and peace.
Sharon and family, we were so sad to hear about Bruce. Our hearts and prayers go out to you all.
To Bruce’s family and all,we are thinking of you all as u go through these days ahead may God give u strength to get u through this hugs and prayers.
Sharon and family. I’m so sorry for your terrible loss. I pray you find comfort surrounded by family and friends during this difficult time.
A good friend for many many years. Prayers and thoughts to Sharon and the family no
Sharon and family please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I share your sorrow.
Sharon and family- So sorry to hear the news about Bruce. Hold all the memories close to your heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. RIP Bruce!
Debbie and Ron Schieffer
I worked with Bruce at Gavins Point. I worked in the visitor center and had a lot of questions from the public about how the powerplant worked. Bruce always took the time to answer some very specific questions. He also took time to acknowledge kids during powerplant tours. He will be greatly missed.
So sorry to hear about your loss. I enjoyed working with him and hearing about his racing projects.
Bruce was a mentor to many people in the hydro power world.
We all shared stories of anything with an engine attached.
He was 100 percent committed to Sharon and the kids. All us didn’t know that we were USF football fans. I recall that something was not right on Crystal’s car that he was checking tech connections on the internet, the only aggravation he ever had was when he could not diagnose the engine misgivings. If I recall it was a red Chevrolet Z34.
He was initially convinced that he when he bought the Lincoln, it was nearly a sin against General Motors.
His three ranked loves:
1. Family
2. Race car
3. Navy
Fair winds and following seas as you sail on.
Moose and Pam Welch
Sharon and family: my heart goes out to you at this difficult time. Know that my prayers are with you.
You all are in our thoughts & prayers. Bruce was one amazing man, and will be missed by so many. So sorry for your loss, let god guide you through these difficult days and give you the strength you need to carry on. RIP Bruce!!
To Sharon and Family . Our sympathy and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
To Sharon and Family, My heart goes out to you and your family at this difficult time. My prayers are with you.
I worked with Bruce at Gavin’s Point. I loved talking with Bruce and often tapped into his vast wealth of knowledge to solve a problem I had been working on or even give him ideas on things he could try. He was always there to talk or share a joke or story. I feel I know all of you without ever meeting you by the stories that he was so proud to share about his family, he was very proud of all of you and loved you very much. Bruce had a positive attitude that we are all going to miss.
Dear Sharon and family. Please accept our deepest sympathy 🙏. We were so very sorry to hear of your great loss. May God be with each of you always. ❤
Sharon and family, I am so sorry to hear of the unexcepted passing of Bruce. Reading some of the messages, it sounds like he was a great man, husband and father. May God help you and your family thru this difficult time.
My heart goes out to Bruce’s family. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers. May he rest in peace.
So sorry to hear of Bruce’s passing. We had a lot of fun times with him. He always made us laugh. He will be missed.
Hi Sharon We were so sad to hear about the passing of your husband, Please know our prayers are with you & your family!! May you feel God’s loving arms of comfort during this difficult time. We pray for God to heal your broken hearts!!
Sharon
Bruce and I become friends when we were both Power Plant Mechanics at different Power Plants on the river. When I become a Plant Controller we were then co-workers. He was very much a family man, on top of things at work and we both enjoyed racing. He will be very much missed by many and am thinking of his family.
I remember the years Bruce and I spent at Tyndall High School. Those were fun years. It was a shame that we didn’t keep in touch. I guess joining different branches of services and travels to different parts of world has it drawbacks. So sorry to hear of his passing away. My prayers go out to Bruce’s family.
Dear Sharon, children, grandchildren, Ruby and families,
My heart is so saddened to learn of Bruce’s untimely death. I am so sorry for each of you, and that you have these sad and lonely days ahead. I am praying that you will feel Jesus’ loving arms wrapped around you to help bring you peace and love.
With loving sympathy,
Barb (Schneider) Courtney
My deepest sympathies to the family. So sorry for your great loss.
Sharon – so sorry for your loss. Sending hugs and prayers your way.
Sharon, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. My prayers are with you and your family in this time of grief.
Sharon Marie, and family, So sorry to hear about Bruce, what a great person, our condolences
I worked with Bruce at Gavins, he was a great man. I always liked visiting with him and listening to his stories. Bruce was always willing to listen or to share his knowledge, which I greatly appreciated. He was incredibly proud of his family and you could hear it in the stories he told. My thoughts and prayers go to Bruce’s whole family and all of his friends. I hope that shared memories and the knowledge of the positive impact that Bruce has made in so many lives will bring you some comfort.
Thoughts and prayers are with all the family. Bruce will be missed
I’m so heartbroken for you all. Bruce was a kind man who was adored by many. Praying and sending love to help you now and in the coming weeks, months, years!
Wow! So many great days and nights in Bruce’s presence over the years; whether it was a chance visit from him on the west coast during his service to our country or out on a drag strip or in Lesterville. The first time I met cousin Bruce I immediately looked up to him as a Man with dedication, loyalty and honesty. On one of my own Family outings to South Dakota with Liz, Aunt Em, Aaron and Ryan, we popped into Bruce’s workshop; The Gavin’s Point Dam. He was able to block out some time to give a tour. We never forgot that. Bruce was full of life and love every time I was in his presence. To Sharon Marie and all, Accept our Heartfelt condolences,
TjBalvin, Liz, Aaron and Ryan Fendel-God Bless
Dear Crystal and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Blessings for peace and comfort
We lost a true veteran August 5, 2022. It was my honor to serve with Bruce on the USS Jouett during the Vietnam era and I feel the sadness and loss as a prior shipmate. I pray for your comfort in this difficult time.
So saddened by the loss of Bruce, I will always remimember his smile. I was in the service with Bruce and spent a few years duck hunting after but did lose contact. Rest in Peasce Bruce
sorry for your loss. never knew Bruce, but heard a lot of good things about him. again you have our sympathy