Clarence Charles Dvorak

Clarence Charles Dvorak (Chuck) entered this life on June 12, 1944, in Dickinson, North Dakota to Charles I Dvorak and Dorothy (Ridl) Dvorak. It was a very wet year and the roads were poor. Clarence took Dorothy to her parents’ home nine miles away two weeks before Chuck was born. Charlie did not see his son until he was two weeks old and had to use a tractor to travel to the Ridl home to see him. It was another two weeks before the roads were passible for the new family to make it home to their farm North of Gladstone. They lived in a one room house until 1945 when they added two rooms to the house, which became home to Dorothy, Charlie and their three sons until 1960. There was no indoor plumbing. Instead outside there was an old-fashioned outhouse, that served as a bathroom. There was a water well with pump handle just outside the outhouse. Electricity reached their farm in 1948 and the telephone came years later. In 1960 Chuck’s parents built a new house which is still occupied by his late brother Donald’s wife, Joyce (Freer).

Chuck had two brothers, Donald (1947) and Dennis (1952). Don and Dennis married sisters who lived five miles from the Dvoraks.

Charlie and Dorothy farmed 960 acres from 1942 (the year they were married) until 1970 when Don took over the farm. They moved into Dickinson until they passed away.

Chuck attended a one room rural school until 7th grade. When he entered the first grade Chuck could not speak English. Bohemian was the language that was spoken at home. In 1958 the school closed and they were bused to Versippi, a small four room grade school and high school. For the first time Chuck had a classmate in his grade. He was the only student in his grade the first seven years. In 1958 he graduated the 8th grade at Versippi School (two in his class). Attended Campus High School in Dickinson. (The high school was part of Dickinson State College). Chuck had to live with his grandparents (Joe and Mildred Ridl) during this time. He graduated high school in 1962 (4th in his class out of 42). He attended Dickinson State College from 1963-1965, then transferred to Ellendale Teachers’ College, a branch of the University of North Dakota. He graduated in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. He was the first of his family to attend college. After teaching several years he earned his master’s degree in Education Administration with endorsements as an elementary, secondary principal and another endorsement as superintendent of schools. In 1979 he enrolled in the Special Educator Administrations Doctoral program at the University of Northern Colorado (Greely, CO) and earned endorsements as a special educator director and teacher of the visually handicapped. In addition, he earned an endorsement as an orientation and mobility instructor for the blind.

Chuck’s employment began working for his father and grandpa Ridl between 7th grade until he graduated from high school. During that time, he also worked for three neighboring farmers working sunflowers and harvesting. Between his freshman and senior years, he also worked for the USA measuring crop compliance. His career in education included teaching for four years as a curriculum developer, High School principal (Public Schools and the North Dakota School for the Blind). While at the University of Northern Colorado he supervised student teachers and taught undergraduate classes in special education. He got his first superintendent job in Agate, Colorado. In all he had eight years of experience as a public-school superintendent between Agate, Lignite, ND and ending in Haxtun, CO as the BOCES Executive Director for Northern Colorado. His last few (four) years before retiring he taught woodworking in Fort Morgan, CO while still living in Haxtun. He retired and was a permanent substitute teacher his first year of retiring in Holyoke. Upon retiring he also served on the Haxtun Board of Educators for 12 years, adding up to a total of 42 years in education.

Chuck met his wife Joan (Ord) Dvorak while in Greely. They dated for five years eventually marrying on November 29, 1985. They tried for children, experiencing two losses before having their only child Jennifer September 17, 1988. Chuck went out to have a cigarette and get a candy bar almost missing the birth of Jennifer. Jennifer was born in Elbert, but shortly after the family moved to Denver, CO. After three years Chuck moved to Lignite, ND. Joan and Jennifer moved a year and a half later. In June of 1997 the family again moved. This time to Haxtun, CO where Joan and Chuck remained until Joan’s passing on July 10, 2024. In August Chuck stayed with Jennifer and her family for a month while looking for a place of his own to live closer to his grandchildren. He found a place in Quiet Acres and was permitted to live there from September to when the sale was finalized on December 24, 2024.

Chuck welcomed a son-in-law, Joshua Bierman, in October of 2018. He inherited a step-grandchild (Parker Plemel). In 2020 his first and only granddaughter, Kenna, was born. Gidian was added in 2022 and Killian in 2023. Chuck loved his grandkids. He couldn’t get over how much Kenna looked like Joan or how much Gidian and Killlian took to him.

Horses were a life long passion of his. He had a horse from the age of nine to when he passed away. He road in the Haxtun Corn Festival Parade for 25 years. He also loved doing art and woodworking.

Chuck passed away in Devils Lake, North Dakota to rejoin his wife on Valentines Day 2025. He was surrounded by his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.

Chuck was preceded in death by his wife, Joan (Ord) Dvorak, brother, Donald Dvorak, his mother, Dorothy (Ridl) Dvorak, father Charlie Dvorak, and two angel babies.

Chuck is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Joshua) Bierman, grandkids Parker Plemel, Kenna Bierman, Gidian Bierman, Killian Bierman and one brother Dennis (Jan) Dvorak. Along with one sister in-law (Joyce) four nieces and nephews and eight great nieces and great nephews.