Vcelka, Dorothy G. 'Dotty'

Dorothy G. “Dotty” Vcelka, 97, formerly of Iowa City, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2011, at Crestview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Branch. There will be a period of visitation at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City on Friday, Feb. 18, from noon until 1 p.m., after which everyone is invited to stay for a gathering of family and friends to celebrate Dotty's life until 2:30 p.m. Private family graveside services will be held at Oakland Cemetery. 

Dotty was born Oct. 19, 1913, in Whitestone, Borough of Queens, New York, the fifth child of Hugo and Susan (Sherwood) Ulrich. She graduated from Flushing High School in Flushing, N.Y., in January 1932. She met Joseph M. Vcelka in Whitestone and they were married on Aug. 12, 1939. They lived in New York and New Jersey before moving to Iowa City in 1978 to be near family. They celebrated their 63rd anniversary in 2002.

 Dotty's family includes her daughter and son-in-law, Dottie and Alan Frank of Iowa City; grandchildren, David Frank and wife Errin of North Liberty, Allison Corlette and husband Gordon of Coralville, and Erik Frank and wife Kathy of Thornton, Colo.; and great-grandchildren, Ruby and Clara (daughters of David and Errin), Joseph (son of Allison and Gordon), and Mikayla (daughter of Erik and Kathy).

Dotty was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; her parents, Hugo and Susan Ulrich; and her four siblings, Charles Ulrich, Ruby Ashmore, Grace Wiesner and Walter Ulrich).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Dotty's memory to Iowa City Hospice. 

Online condolences may be sent to her family through the web at