Dorothy Louise Juranek

Dorothy Louise (Gleason) Juranek was born Nov. 6 1927, three miles east of Beecher Island, Colorado to Lloyd and Mary (Lamb) Gleason. She was the oldest of six children. She parted this life Sept. 17 2014 at Hillcrest Care Center in Wray at the age of 86. As a child, she stayed with her grandmother in Eckley and attended Yuma and Eckley School.

Prior to World War II, Joe Juranek met Dorothy while working for her father. After a lengthy courtship, on February 12, 1948 Dorothy and Joe were wed in Benkelman, Nebraska and to this union four children were born Leonard, Kelly, Mary, Bryan.

In 1950, Joe and Dorothy decided to build their own family home in which they could raise their family. Pregnant with their second child on the way and cooking on a Coleman camping stove with no running water or plumbing, she was very anxious to get in there home. It was a hard time for her and Joe, raising a family in a small one room shack while completing their home in 1953.

Dorothy worked through the years for the Junior High Cafeteria, Renotta Nursing Home, also by taking in ironings to make ends meet.

In 1992, Joe had a brush with death almost dying from an aneurysm, Dorothy stayed by his side while he was in intensive care. For over a month, she lived outside the Greeley Hospital in a small camper in the middle of winter that Joe’s brother in law, Marion had provided.

After two months of rehab at the Hospital, Joe returned home where they spent the next 12 years together enjoying family and each other until Joe’s passing in 2004.

After Joe’s passing, Dorothy lived at home for the next 10 years until her failing health forced her admission into Hillcrest Care Center.

After a short stay, Dorothy passed away peacefully with her children at her side.

Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents; LLoyd and Mary Gleason, brothers; Marvin, Kenny, George, sister; Virginia (Gleason) Renzelman and daughter-in-law, Ellen Juranek.

Those surviving her are her brother; Ronnie, children; Leonard Juranek, Kelly Juranek, Mary Thurmond, and Bryan Juranek & wife, Cindi; grandchildren; Dawn Peterson, Beth Lopez, Jeremy Juranek, Chris Rippe; great grandchildren; Hunter, Bradyn, Rowan, Ally, Ethan, Seth and numerous Nieces and Nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday, September 22, 2014, 2:00 p.m. at the Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Steve Wynkoop officiating. Interment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado was in charge of arrangements.