Sylvia Doke

Sylvia Joyce (Fritzler) Doke was a farmer for 88 years and experienced a life well lived. She left the world a better place with better people as she gently passed on Monday, July 25, 2022,surrounded by her family, whom she loved dearly. Sylvia overflowed with love for the Lord, and he gave her grace and mercy as he opened the doors to his house and provided her a home through all eternity.

Sylvia's family settled in the Greeley area during the Bolshevik revolution fleeing the Vulga region in Russia. They took to the family business of farming. Her parents, Jake T. and Naomi Fritzler, had a grocery store in Greeley and later returned to farming. Sylvia was born on December 11, 1932, in Fort Collins on her family's farm near Severance, the oldest of three sisters. Kathy and Janice preceded her in death.

The farming life was all she knew, starting with gathering eggs at three and later helping raise her sisters. She started cooking for the family around eight years old out of necessity as her mom and dad worked hard to maintain the family farm. She was an accomplished cook making many notable and mouthwatering dishes, including her famous goulash, Krautburgers, and savory desserts, including pumpkin bars, lemon bars, and Kuga.

The first love of her life was her beloved pony named Diamond, and he was the first of her lifelong commitment to raising, nurturing, and caring for horses. In 1981 she purchased a pair of Percherons (Dick and Dan), training them into a noted working team.

She was an accomplished seamstress and loved embroidery and knitting. She was also an accomplished musician with skills in playing the trumpet, piano, organ, guitar, mandolin, violin, and harmonica.

She attended Greeley Central high school. She met her high school sweetheart, William (Bill) Frank Doke, at a high school basketball game in Gill, Colorado. It was love at first sight in the lovestruck couple eloped to Raton, New Mexico, in 1952, a union that would last nearly 70 years.

Sylvia began farming side by side with Bill and raised alfalfa and sheep in the Galeton/Fort Collins area at their first farm. They had two boys and later a girl. William Gary (Gary) and Randall Jacob (Randy) are presently living in Wray, Colorado, and Kristine Marie (Kristi), resides in Parker, Colorado. The family moved in 1969 to Goodland, Kansas, where the family farm focused on raising sugar beets.

Sylvia's guiding hand raised two boys who loved horses, competed in athletics, and were accomplished equestrians competing in multiple rodeo events. She spent her time in Goodland driving Kristi around the tri-state area, where Kristi competed in numerous equestrian events, including Little Britches and drill team.

Sylvia and Bill purchased land and moved the family to Wray in 1974. They developed the land into highly productive irrigated croplands and raised cattle until they retired from farming in 2000.They eased into their retirement, building a house in 1996 and settling in the Greeley area in 1997 to take care of Sylvia's parents

Sylvia loved her grandchildren Daniel Jacob [Dan], (William Tyler [Tyler], Amy Lynn, Clayton William [Clay], Kaytlyn Taylor [KT], Nicholle Marie, and Nikolas Norman [Nik]. She made every effort to be around them as they grew and matured. Bill and Sylvia later moved to the Parker area, building a house in 2010 to be close to their grandchildren.

Her family was the center of her life, and Sylvia cherished each moment she could spend with them. She adored her children, grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, giving them love and nurturing and taking moments to teach them skills such as music, animal husbandry, and horse care. Sylvia dearly loved gathering with family and was the happiest when surrounded by them during the holidays.

Sylvia enjoyed her music, including country-western, bluegrass, and gospel. She was a deeply spiritual individual believing in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and spent much of her time singing praise and giving thanks to the Lord. She has given the world an amazing legacy. Her presence will be missed, and her love will live on forever.

Memorials can be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research.