Dennis V. Dvorak

Dennis Verne Dvorak, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and distinguished civil engineer, passed away from complications of PML which developed following his battle with lymphoma. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in his name to Blood Cancer United, an organization that provided him with resources and hope.

Born on June 10, 1959, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Verne and Helen (Pretzer) Dvorak, Dennis carried the values of his Midwestern upbringing and a "Huskers" spirit with him throughout his life.Dennis spent his childhood in Hastings and Lincoln, nurtured by a close-knit extended family. He often reminisced about the frequent Sunday gatherings in the Beatrice area that remained a cornerstone of his early memories. A hard worker from the start, Dennis delivered newspapers for the Lincoln Sun and Journal Star and worked at a local McDonald’s.

His commitment to service began in the Boy Scouts, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. At Lincoln Southeast High School (Class of 1977), Dennis balanced his time between the wrestling mat and the band room, where he played the tuba. He pursued his passion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1981 and his M.S. in 1983, specializing in transportation engineering and statistics. An active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student group, a foreshadowing of his lifelong commitment to road safety.

Dennis dedicated his entire professional career to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). After a rigorous two-year period that took him from Rocky Mountain National Park and the Tonto National Forest to North Carolina and D.C., he was assigned to the Springfield, Illinois office. It was there that he met the love of his life, Leah Turley. They were married on August 30, 1986. In 1987, the couple relocated to Topeka, Kansas, where they raised their two children, Adam and Carrie.

In 2004, Dennis’s expertise led him to a position with the FHWA Resource Center. Moving to Manhattan, Illinois, he became a nationally recognized Pavement Materials & Quality Control expert. His work took him to nearly every state, providing critical training and technical assistance. In 2012 he received the Federal Highway Administration Award for Engineering Excellence for his exemplary leadership and sustained efforts to improve the quality of the Nation’s pavements. He was also honored for his 40 years of service in the field by both FHWA and AASHTO.

Beyond his professional accolades, Dennis was a man of deep faith and loyalty. He and Leah were active members of the New Lenox United Methodist Church and served as a Boy Scout leader. He was a lifelong supporter of University of Nebraska Athletics and a proud contributor to the UNL Engineering College. He was rarely seen without his candy nearby and his gumball machine was never empty. He was an incredibly active man, often found walking for miles with his dogs, regardless of the weather. Dennis was an active member of his APBA baseball leagues, where he loved to play and travel to different stadiums to catch a game. He enjoyed traveling to National Parks and museums, with his family.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Verne and Helen Dvorak. He is survived by his wife, Leah, children, Adam (Brittney) Dvorak and Carrie Dvorak, and grandchildren Emersyn and Grayson; sister Carla (Ed) Lash; brother, Bruce (Karrie) Dvorak; and brother-in-law, Wendal (LuAnn) Turley; and many cousins,nieces & nephews.