Loy LaVerne Dolifka

Our sweet dad, Loy Laverne Dolifka of Anton, Colorado went to be with his Lord and Savior on Jan 1, 2024 at the age of 87.
He was born in Denver, Colorado on September 1, 1936, to Charley and Ima Dolifka. He was the oldest of six children and was raised in the Thurman Community. He attended school at Thurman and Lindon. While in high school he was so proud to have made the basketball team - he also noted it may have had something to do with the fact he had a big enough car to haul the team to games. He always had old stories to tell about the trouble he and his friends would get into in school. He reported that it was most often his brother Paul who came up with the ideas and then dad and his buddies would get in trouble, with Paul looking innocent. One story involved tying a string to a suitcase, leaving the suitcase on the side of the road, and then hiding in a culvert. Once a car would stop to check out the suitcase, they would quickly jerk it back down into the culvert and leave the travelers very confused. Loy graduated from Lindon in 1955.
After graduation Loy worked in a cotton gin in Arizona for his uncle Joe Dolifka and one of his memories of that time is when his uncle took him to a nearby ranch to meet the owner who just happen to be the actor, John Wayne.
Upon Loy's returned to Colorado he married the love of his life Betty Jo Confer of Anton on June 9, 1957 to which two children were born, Joy and Troy. He and Betty began farming and ranching in the Thurman area at that time and continued to do so until his passing. His favorite place was home but occasionally Betty would convince him to travel with friends and family. They enjoyed times in Vegas, Arizona, California, Nebraska and a couple of cruises.
Pops never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone he might meet. Then he would come back home and most often buy some cattle and mom knew there wouldn't be another trip for awhile! He also enjoyed playing pinochle, serving in the Lion's Club, Akron Elk's, Bethel Union Church, and having coffee with his friends at the Anton Coop.
Loy is proceeded in death by his wife Betty, parents Charley and Ima Dolifka, brother-in-law Dean Dalrymple and nephew Dewayne Dalrymple.
He is survived by his children Joy Dolifka and Troy Dolifka and wife Brinna, grandsons Brady and wife Brittany Dolifka, Levi and wife Taylor Dolifka, Alex and Spencer Shapiro, and great grandchild Lula Dolifka. He is also survived by his five siblings Paul and Sharon Dolifka, Don and Mary Alice Dolifka, Joyce Dalrymple, Janice and Rick Peterson and Dale and Rhoda Dolifka and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
His celebration of life is Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bethel Union Church, Anton, Colorado with inurnment in the Thurman Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Arickaree FFA.