Doris Marie (Cermak) Ptacek, 95, passed away at the Shawnee Heartland Assisted Living Facility in Shawnee, Kansas, on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019.
On May 11, 1923, she was born in Bee, Nebraska, to James and Amelia (Bouska) Cermak. Her father passed away in 1927, and the family moved to Wilson, Kansas and later back to Bee, Nebraska, where she attended school. While she was in school, Doris and her sister used to sing and dance to Czech songs at programs.
After graduation from High School, she attended Lincoln Business College. Upon graduating from Business College, Doris worked at the Nebraska State Capitol for four years. In 1947, she married John Ptacek in Wilson, Kansas. John was a farmer in Wilson where they lived and raised their son Darell.
Doris helped her husband on the farm and continued to work at other jobs. During the construction of the Wilson Dam and Reservoir she worked for four years in the site office. Later, she worked in the Ellsworth County Hospital administrative office for over 27 years until she retired. In 1983, her beloved husband, John, passed away. After his death, Doris continued living on and running the family farm.
In 2000, Doris moved to Shawnee Heartland, Shawnee, Kansas, where she was one of the original residents when the facility opened. The move allowed her to be closer to her son Darell, his wife Linda and three active grandsons. She was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren. Doris enjoyed watching all of them grow-up and attended their sporting events whenever she could. Over the years, Doris had many hobbies, including dancing, growing flowers and a garden, raising chickens and ducks, collecting antique glassware and her specialty collection of butterfly-themed pins and jewelry. Doris was always an active member of the Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society and was a 4-H volunteer leader for 10 years.
Doris is survived by her son, Darell and wife Linda of Lenexa; grandchildren, Russ Ptacek and wife Erin of Louisburg, Travis Ptacek and wife Stephanie of Overland Park, Cody Ptacek and wife Kerri of Olathe; seven great-grandchildren, Ethan, Nova, Blair, Marie, Camden, Derek, and Quincy; brother-In-Law, Frank Sisel of Raytown, Missouri, and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Ptacek; parents, James and Amelia Cermak; and two infant sons; and sister, Rosalyn Sisel.
Doris worked hard, loved her Lord Jesus and her family. Be encouraged by her legacy, live an inspired, spiritual and happy life as you did when she was living. Live each day with encouragement knowing that Doris is smiling down on you from Heaven.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 21, 2019, at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson, Kansas, Father Matthew Chacko presiding.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 2019 with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. with Vigil and Rosary Service at 7 p.m., all at the Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson, Kansas.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society or American Macular Degeneration Research Foundation (AMDF).