Vincent T. Dittrich, 75, of Prairie Village, KS, took the Lord’s hand and departed his home in the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 12, 2021, leaving a legacy of unwavering faith, devotion to family, selfless love, and service to others. Preceding him in death were his parents Theodore and Dorothea Dittrich and his sisters Dot Newman and Annemarie Dittrich. A committed husband of 49 years, Vince is survived by his wife, Terry, four loving children: Amy (Jamie) Bunck, Angela (Mike) Perryman, Andrew (Colleen) Dittrich, and Preston (Rosmery) Dwyer, and seven admiring grandchildren: Jayce Bunck, Asher Bunck, Annie Perryman, Joseph Perryman, Addison Dittrich, Brianna Dwyer, and Amber Dwyer.
Vince was born in Kansas City, MO on June 17, 1945, the second of six children. He spent his childhood in Sioux City, Iowa, and attended the University of Iowa where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy. He was an ROTC cadet and earned the highest awards for marksmanship, a hobby he pursued for the duration of his life. Following in his dad’s footsteps, Vince attended graduate school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he earned both a master and a doctorate of Pharmacology. It was here that he met the love of his life, his wife Terry. Upon completion of his studies, Vince taught pharmacology in the nursing and respiratory therapy graduate programs at KU. At various times in his life, Vince worked as a retail and hospital pharmacist. However, the majority of his professional career was spent in pharmacy software development, earning several awards for excellence.
Throughout his life, Vince engaged in a myriad of interests and hobbies. He gave his time in voluntary service to the Boy Scouts, Sanctuary of Hope, the Knights of Columbus, and Christ Renews His Parish. He was an ardent reader, writer, and contemplative; amateur photographer and print developer; ham radio broadcaster; political pundit; and avid cyclist, camper, hunter and marksman. Vince was also an incredible craftsman. With patience, persistence and attention to detail, Vince would turn a wood blank into a work of art. Yet he was a humble man. When others pored over his beautiful woodworking projects, he deflected the praise and simply spoke of the workarounds he employed to get there and the bones of buried error that, hopefully, he alone knew where to find.
Vince put his faith and his family above all else. He was steadfast in his love for his “bride”, to whom he attributed each of the blessings bestowed on him, devoted to his children, and awed by the depth of joy he experienced in the presence of his grandchildren. His family, in turn, adored him. By account of his grandchildren, grandpa could do no wrong. He was the master of games, the ultimate tickle monster, toy-fixer extraordinaire, rocket scientist, firearms instructor, hidey-hole engineer, and the biggest baddest wolf. If a man were measured by the love he cultivated, Vince would stand, unassumingly, among the most revered.
With his family, Vince harbored a preeminently charming trait as a sappy correspondent, writing many cards and letters throughout the years with the heart-tugging send-off I.W.L.Y.F. (I will love you forever). Weeks prior to his passing, Vince spoke of the absence of his father, and the unique pain of feeling adrift without that familiar paternal anchor. Sitting in his armchair, looking pensively out the living room window, he said he did not know whether he’d ever reconcile that loss. But Vince, himself, was an anchor by nature and weighted by choice. He was everything his wife, children, and grandchildren needed him to be: always there, time after time, with intense love, tethering a ship and creating safe harbor while each individual plotted their course and embarked on their journey.
Those who knew Vince knew that he approached life’s challenges with measure and intention, patience and care. He was meticulous in study and learning, and it served his unending quest to understand the how and the why. He reveled in the journey of finding out, and he dutifully shared with others the lessons he learned through study, practice and life. Vince understood and taught the importance of hard work and earned reward, and so many benefitted from his hard work. So many, including his children and grandchildren, learned from him how to interrogate, reflect, and discover for themselves, and how to recognize, in his absence, life lessons both big and small.
Guided by his commitment to his Catholic faith, Vince was a role model by any definition. His selflessness lifted others, and his modesty belied the breadth of his knowledge, passion and philosophy. It masked a quiet confidence that buoyed him during his life as both a leader and as God’s servant. Vince was always there when you needed him most, with an open, giving, and forgiving heart.
Words cannot begin to express who the world lost last Tuesday morning. But there is joy in knowing that he was truly one of a kind. Vince was a consummate gentleman, beloved husband, admired father, adored grandfather, and trusted friend who lived his life with integrity and service to his faith and fellow man. He will be deeply missed.
To our husband, dad, grandad and friend – W.W.L.Y.F.
Services will be held on Monday, January 18th at St. Ann Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208 at the following times:10-11am Visitation, 11-11:30am Rosary, 11:30am Mass of Christian Burial. Vincent will be laid to rest on Tuesday, January 19th at 10am at Resurrection cemetery in Lenexa, KS.
For those unable to join us in-person, services will be streamed beginning at 10:50 to include the Rosary. https://stannpv.org/vincedittrich
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Ann Catholic Church in Prairie Village, KS. Memorial gifts can be made online at https://stannpv.org/tribute-gifts.
I had the pleasure to know Vince on a work and personal level for many years. His dry humor and quick wit will always live with me as will his commitment to doing what was right and his support of others. Whether it was riding in the MS150 bike ride, sitting in a cold duck blind and sharing stories, or just having a conversation, Vince was always there to contribute.
Vince was a dear friend to me and he will be greatly missed. My prayers to his family.
Rest in peace, my friend, until we meet again. Thank you for being you.
Mike Hicks
What an amazingly, beautiful tribute. I count myself one of the lucky ones who spent much time at the Dittrich home during my high school years. Many prayers are lifted up for you all and so grateful to have been able to be a small part of your family.
I worked with Vince many years ago at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Vince was a mentor and a good friend who I adored. It was a rough time in my life then and Vince was always supportive and willing to give advice when I needed it. This world has lost a gem. He was one of a kind. Thoughts and sympathy to his family. Peace be with you all.
I worked with Vince for over a decade and he was as strong there as he was in his personal life. He gave me great advice about work and life, and I am grateful for that. I’m happy he can be with his father now and I will miss him.
I just wanted to add something to that wonderful description of my big brother. He had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. No matter what memory I reflect on, there is always laughter involved. He could take the saddest of situations and find a way to make you smile. One of my favorite memories, which is a perfect example of this, is what he did at our Dad’s wake. Vincent, Dot, and I were going to present our memories/tributes and we were all certain that we would break down in tears before we were able to finish. Just before the memorial began, Vincent hid a beer (Dad’s beverage of choice) under the podium, making sure we knew it was there. He told us that if we felt like we were going to start crying, just look down at that can of beer. It worked for both Dot and I, but apparently, just knowing it was hidden there and looking at it wasn’t enough for Vincent. Right in the middle of his tribute, he took the beer out for everyone to see, opened it, and set it on the podium. It produced a big laugh and helped ease the sadness everyone was feeling. I will carry the memories of all the times we shared and all the laughter that accompanied them with me for the rest of my life. No one could ever have a big brother who was better than mine. I was blessed to be his little sister.
I am sadden to hear that Vincent has passed. I worked with him at Mediware. He was kind and a pleasure to work with. The world has loss a good man. My prayers are with his family at this time. May God shine his light on you.
We learned from this tribute so many things we did not know about our friend Vince! Like that he was actually DR. Dittrich. A humble man, indeed, despite all the accomplishments and abilities he could have boasted about.
When I think of Vince’s passing, I cry but then I see his smiling face and remember his humor and laugh. That was the beauty of him, he could make a person laugh while crying. I feel richly blessed to have known him. Rest in peace, my friend. See you on the other side.
Vince was my best friend for 46 years. Jess and I first met the Dittrich in the “9:15” and “Joy of the Lord” communities in the late seventies. He and his wife Terry were assigned to us as prayer partners and our friendship has grown ever since. When they decided to adopt another child, besides their three teenagers, they floored us by the depth of their generosity and love. As an intellectual Vince liked to debate apparent contradictions in scriptures. This enriched our scripture studies and allowed a deeper appreciation of the divine wisdom hidden in it, once you decided to let it instruct you instead of trying to judge it. Vince’s favorite hobby was wood working. He was a perfectionist and polished his work until it glowed.
He also liked to collect and share articles about curent events and policies with comments that reflected his deep understanding of the opposition of evil spirits to God’s work in our world. He also liked to poke fun at the fake science that is causing so much panic in the current Chinese virus pandemic whose actual mortality rate (without a vaccine) is now known to be comparable to that of the flu! Vince was also a worrier and I rejoice that now he can rest from all his works in the loving hands of God, our Father.
Dear Angela – our sincere condolences to you and your family. We are thinking of you and sending you and your family our love. May your father Rest In Peace. Ali @ Arezoo
I worked with Vince over ten years. Loved his sense of humor and stories. He always made me smile.
Vince took Mike under his wing when he was struggling to make sense of his world. I will never forget his kindness and generosity. As fellow grandparents, I watched him get down and play with Annie and Joe on their level. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. Especially his grandchildren.
What a beautiful tribute. I feel so blessed to have known such a kind and loving man. God Bless you all and lots of Love and Prayers.
We are so sorry to hear of Vince’s passing. The whole family has our sympathy.
I was blessed to have Angela as a dear friend during my youth, and blessed to have spent time with Vince and Terry in their warm, lovely home in that context. Many times I have remembered my wonder and appreciation for the lived faith that I experienced in the Dittrich home and family. I remember them joining hands around the table and praying from their hearts before meals. I remember thinking that the 9:15 Mass they attended on Sundays at my parish was palpably more spirited and communal than usual, an experience I wish I’d had more of in my youth. I remember Vince and Terry huddling and praying with Angela in the airport before sending her off on a far-away adventure with me. I remember the plastic-label-love-note (green?) from Vince to Terry semi-permanently affixed behind the steering wheel in the car in which Angela was permitted to drive. We girlfriends of Angela thought that was SOOOOOO SWEET! I remember how much I admired them for their loving generosity in welcoming Preston into their family. Now that I am a wife and mother, I know how foundational the love and faith of a father is, and I praise and thank God for the blessings that flowed on, in and through Vince Dittrich to those whose lives he touched, directly or indirectly. May he rest in peace, and may the perpetual light shine full upon him. Amen.