Kenneth Frank Vavra

It is with great sadness that we announce that Kenneth F. Vavra passed away on July 17, 2018, at the age of 77 years.

Born May 11, 1941 in Winner, South Dakota to Dorothy Ann (Cahoy) and Frank R. Vavra, Ken spent his childhood on the family farm near Colome, South Dakota.  He lost his right leg in a tragic farming accident at the age of 14; the presence of first wooden and then titanium prosthetic legs never kept Ken from achieving his goals.  Following graduation from high school, Ken attended the University of South Dakota (USD) and began teaching English.  Ken taught in a rural elementary school near Winner as his first employment and also taught in Waubay.  He later returned to USD where he graduated with a degree in law and practiced in the Platte area prior to moving to San Diego, California, where he spent his remaining working days operating  the Escondido Bridge Center and Tax Office.

Ken was an American Contract Bridge League Life Master, a well-respected bridge Director, and an energetic bridge teacher who introduced the game to hundreds of novices.  Ken was also an avid gardener with a special love of roses and exotic fruits.  His vegetables and citrus fruits were the envy of many, and those lucky enough to sample his freshly-squeezed orange juice can count themselves fortunate indeed.

Ken is survived by his son, Captain Randall James Vavra (49, Arlington, VA) and his daughter, Professor Nichole Ann Marie Reisdorph (48, Parker, CO).  Ken is also survived by 5 grandchildren Bailey (18), Niclas (15), Georgia (14), Sergio (13), Ale (10); 3 step-grandchildren Amber (33), Amanda (31), and Andrew (27); and 3 great-grandchildren.  Ken is survived by his three sisters: Peg Schwartz of Gregory, SD, Jeanne Bride of Sturgis, SD, Claudia Opbroek of OH, and by his brother Robert Vavra.  

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ken can be made to the Epilepsy Foundation https://www.epilepsycolorado.org/donate or the Dumb Friends League https://www.ddfl.org.

The family of Mr. Vavra will be holding a Memorial Service at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kenneth Frank Vavra, please visit our floral store.