John F. Vrtis

John F. Vrtis was born in 1939 and lived his early years in LaGrange Park, IL. After graduating from Marquette University, he remained in the Milwaukee area, working in the field of journalism and in public relations for the city’s mayor. 

After moving to Cañon City, CO, in 1970, he worked in public relations for Holy Cross Abbey and School. He remained active politically and also held elected office, after which he ran the county’s only homeless shelter and food distribution center. 

His final work venture was as a tax professional, where he aided people in that area for 24 years. 

He is survived by his wife Beatrice, his son Matthew and his wife Amanda Vrtis, his daughter Mary Goodwin, and four grandchildren: Ashley and Alex Vrtis and Viana and Lenae Goodwin. 

Testimonials

John was extraordinary. He put himself heart and soul into everything he did. He was solidly grounded in a spiritual life, which sustained him through huge difficulties in our personal life. 

In his last 9 years , when his disease had robbed him of the use of his body, even beginning to take away his ability to speak, he calmly accepted this with grace and dignity, always positive. Though 24 hr. physical caregiving is hard work, he made that burden easy and light. 

At the end, when he was so weak and so very tired, he died peacefully at home with his last words being words of love. I miss him so much. 

---Beatrice, his wife.

 John isn’t my DNA dad. Instead, he chose to make me his daughter when I was 3 years old. I don’t have any memories before the age of three, so he’s always been my one and only dad. As I got older I understood how influential he was in politics and the community. My memories of those times are getting to sit in the back of fancy red cars each year in the Apple Day Parade waving at the crowds. Matt and I would go through the pies in the competition looking for Mom’s pie, which was by far the best one (not up for debate). 

I remember spending days including Christmas and Thanksgiving at Loaves and Fishes, exploring the place and helping Mom clean. He taught me about money and how to use it. I remember cutting out and organizing coupons for him each week and watching as the cashier would pay him 87 cents to leave the store with a cart full of food. They have a name for that now: extreme couponing. 

We didn’t agree on everything though. I knew from early on that Santa wasn’t real, but he didn’t accept that. Each Christmas Eve, Matt and I were pushed out to go look for Santa. We would sit under the big willow tree outside the house and watch him and Mom carry the gifts from the bedroom to the tree. Then he’d pop out the back door and say bye to Santa before calling us in and wondering how we just miss seeing Santa every year. 

I don’t know what my life would be without him in it and I’ve never spent time wondering that. Losing a father is hard at any age, but I’m glad I have all the years of memories. 

---Mary, his daughter

 One thing that I remember about my dad is that his focus was always on helping the people that needed help. He did this at Loaves and Fishes; when he was a county commissioner, and when he was working for HR Block. He did all of these things with helping people who needed it in mind always. 

---Matthew, his son

 I have very fond memories of John introducing us to Estes Park and all of the things he enjoyed. From the barbeque place to the candy store, he was happy to be there. He enjoyed the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park and the mountains. I remember the joy it brought him and us all. 

---Amanda, his daughter-in-law

 Life’s difficult trials can make people bitter or better. Uncle John definitely became better! He learned to listen with his heart. He could look deep within my soul and make me feel like God’s masterpiece, loved and of great worth. If all people felt this, families would be whole and nations would heal. Uncle John gave us, his family, a legacy of love.

---Kathy West, his niece.