Vesta M. Holtgraves

She was born Vlasta Margaret Veverka on December 26, 1926 in Tripp, South Dakota to James and Barbara (Povondra) Veverka. She married her husband of 64 years Philip J. Holtgraves on June 2, 1951.

Vesta graduated from Tripp High School in 1944. She stated that her career choices at the time were secretarial, teaching or nursing and she chose the latter. It was during World War II and there was a shortage of nurses. With financial assistance from the government she became an RN at St. Vincent’s in Sioux City, Iowa. While in training the war ended so Vesta was not called to serve in the military. She did work as a RN in VA hospitals during her nursing career which included the Kansas City VA hospital until her second child was born.

She met Phil while they were both working in Yellowstone National Park during the summer. They had a common interest in travel and history. Their honeymoon was a road trip and travel continued until their later years. Vesta traveled to Czechoslovakia several times to visit family as her parents immigrated from there in the early part of the 20th century. Her Czech heritage was important to her and Czech was her primary language until she started school.

We fondly remember Vesta gardening, canning, cooking and sewing as we were growing up. Her cooking was amazing and she never wasted anything. She also took the time to volunteer with numerous school, band and church organizations. She enjoyed playing bridge and in addition to her church group she met weekly for decades with three girlfriends for a game. She loved the written word and raised a family of readers and Scrabble players. This was also evident in the numerous hand written letters she wrote to family and friends over the years. She boldly did her crossword puzzles in ink. Vesta was also a lover and supporter of the arts.

Vesta was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Phil as well as her siblings Elizabeth, Joe, Sophie, Doris and Dolores. She is survived by her children Tom Holtgraves, Teresa Holtgraves (Ric Prindle), Jim Holtgraves (Carol), Jane Clark (Dennis), John Holtgraves (Katherine), Nancy Holtgraves, Chuck Holtgraves (Lisa) and Jo Ellen Fritz (Kent), fourteen grandchildren, Eric, Nicole (Chris), Robert (Angie), Andrew, Torii, Megan, Noah, Micah, August, Jackson, Cameron, Carson, Claire and Brooke and five great-grandchildren Charlotte, Robert, Oliver, Zoey and Alexandra, her brother-in-law Don Holtgraves (Genny) and sister-in-law Helen Starostka and many nieces and nephews.

Mom always believed in us and what we could accomplish. Any success our family had or will achieve is directly related to the loving and supportive home she provided. We were blessed as she truly was one of a kind. Rest in peace Mom - Odpočívej v pokoji.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Grace Hospice and of Santa Marta.

Visitation will be held from 6pm – 8pm on Thursday, April 28th at McGilley State Line Chapel . Rosary at 9:30am with funeral services at 10am on Friday, April 29th at The Church of the Nativity at 3800 W. 119th St, Leawood, Kansas. Interment will immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery at 83rd and Quivira, Lenexa, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.