Marie 'Jean' Regina Vavroch

Oct. 17, 1928--Dec. 11, 2010

OBERLIN, Kansas -- Marie "Jean" Regina Vavroch, 82, died Saturday (Dec. 11, 2010), at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin.

She was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Jennings, Kansas, the fourth of eight children of Henry and Theresa (Robben) Hickert.

She was reared on the family farm east of Jennings. She attended Lone Star School, District 69, near Jennings and graduated from Leoville High School in Leoville, Kansas, in 1946.

She received a teaching certificate from Fort Hays State College and worked as a teacher for Jennings Rural Grade School. She later worked at the Jennings Bank.

On Aug. 12, 1961, she married Charley Vavroch at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in New Almelo, Kansas. They made their home on the Vavroch family farm where three children were born to their union. She spent their youth as a housewife.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she served as lay minister until her health declined. She participated in the altar society, Zeta Nu, and various other organizations. During her children's later years, she worked at Cobblestone, Ltd. followed by Expressions of Home.

She and her husband moved to Oberlin in 1982, while in the process of retiring from farming.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and two brothers, Marcellus and Norman Hickert.

Survivors include two sons, Allan Vavroch of Manhattan, Kansas, and Kevin Vavroch of Shawnee, Kansas; one daughter, Janice Doyle of Kansas City, Missouri; two brothers, Emory Hickert of Clearwater, Florida, and Gordon Hickert of Cherokee Village, Arkansas; and three sisters, Ida Hoover of Lady Lake, Florida, Elizabeth Richards of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Elinor Wiltfong of Norton, Kansas.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date, as well as a memorial fund, which is currently being established.

Condolences may be left online at www.paulsfh.com.

Pauls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.