Roger D. Vancil

Roger D. Vancil passed away in his home in Aurora, Colorado on May 11th, 2025, at the age of 77. He was born in Sabetha, Kansas on July 10th, 1947, to Alberdena G. (Meyer) Vancil and David E. Vancil. Roger Graduated from Gothenburg High School in Nebraska in 1965. He went on to graduate from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1976. He also attended several other universities including the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa where he earned his master’s degree, and the University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center in Denver.

Roger proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1973 as a Medical Laboratory Technician and Cytotechnologist. He was stationed in both Fort Sam Houston in Texas and Fort Riley in Kansas. He spent a total of 3 years, 8 months, and 14 days in active-duty service. Roger also served in the National Guard from 1973 to 1974 and was in the Reserves from 1988 to 1991. He also served 4 additional months in Operation Desert Storm. In 2006, Roger retired from the Colorado Department of Public Health in Denver where he was widely known for his career as a Public Health Laboratory Scientist and Microbiologist. Throughout his life, Roger was very passionate about living a healthy lifestyle through physical fitness and good dietary habits. He had a deep appreciation for spending time in nature and for outdoor recreation. His favorite hobbies included fishing, canoeing, camping, hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking. Some of his favorite outdoor recreational areas included Lake McConaughy, Table Rock Lake, Lost Creek Wilderness, Seven Falls, and Garden of the Gods.

Roger is survived by his daughter Crystal (Vancil) Marle of Colorado Springs, his son David Vancil of Wellington, Colorado, his brothers Alan Vancil of Mulvane, Kansas & Gary Vancil of Lawrence, Kansas, nephews Brian & Scott Vancil and niece Katie (Vancil) Butler. He is also survived by his grandchildren Ethan Vancil & Zach Ferrier of Lakewood Colorado, as well as Carsen, McKinley, Ben, Sammy, & Riley Marle of Colorado Springs. Other survivors include close friends such as Greg Wolfe of High Point, North Carolina, Paul Dietz of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Larry Bierma of Punta Gorda, Florida. A small, virtual celebration of life event is being planned for July of 2025 where family and friends will share slideshows, memories, and stories.