A private family service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines followed by entombment with military rights at Resthaven Mausoleum. Dewey always loved a party. Everyone is invited to a Celebration of Life reception from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the Tuscany Event Center, 3901 121st Street, in Urbandale, IA.
Dewey was born in 1925, in Columbus, Ohio, to Mary and Milan Vukovich. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served as PFC until 1946 in the 774th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Armored Division, 3rd Army and was assigned to the British 1st Army for a period of time. He was involved in the liberation of Paris, St. Lo, Battle of Antwerp, Battle of the Bulge, Operations Market Garden and Overloon, and the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
In 1950, Dewey married Patricia Wolfe. Together, they had four children, Mark, Marcia, Martha, and Matthew. In 1967, Dewey moved to Iowa to become the owner and president of Dewey Ford, Inc. He served there until 1990 when his son, Mark, purchased the dealership from him. Dewey was a member of the National Ford Dealer Council and regional director of the Ford Dealer Advertising Fund. He was a member of the Iowa Auto Dealer Board and a founding member of their educational foundation. Locally, he was heavily involved in the Reciprocity Breakfast Club, Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Des Moines Rotary Club. Especially close to his heart was the East Des Moines Club where he often lunched with his east side business buddies.
Dewey was an honorary life member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. His creative fundraising ideas led to the founding of the Taste of Generosity fundraiser and other events to benefit the cause.
Dewey loved to fix things and tinker. He had a machine shed full of items that he loved to tinker with, always saying, “I am going to fix that one of these days.” He also enjoyed spending time with and maintaining the flowers, pool, and the yard with his longtime companion, Diane Mohrfeld.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, who died in 1993, and his brother, Mike, who passed away in 2017. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Peg Vukovich; daughters, Martha Vukovich and Marcia (Jeff) Johnson; and sons, Mark (Char) Vukovich and Matthew (Colleen) Vukovich. He was grandfather to seven: Kate Vukovich, Aaron (Katelyn) Johnson, Leah Johnson, Sam Johnson, Jacob Vukovich, Caleb Vukovich, and Ben Vukovich.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to DMARC Food Pantry, 1435 Mulberry, Des Moines, IA 50309 or Multiple Sclerosis Society-Iowa Chapter, 8187 University Blvd., Clive, IA 50325.
