Dorothy Sintek

Dorothy Sintek, born on December 30th, 1933, was the daughter of Mary and Elmer Irene. Growing up in Elk Mountain, Wyoming, she shared a particularly close bond with her dad, spending countless hours on horseback together. As a little girl, her dad would get her up at 4am to go with him to break horses for another ranch. She was always on a gentle horse, just in case her dad got bucked off and needed a back-up to catch the one he was breaking.

When she was 20 years old, she met her beloved husband, Jack Sintek. The story of their enduring companionship began in 1953 when they first met at a dance. The two hearts quickly intertwined, leading to a beautiful wedding at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on June 28, 1954.

In the early years of their marriage, Dorothy and Jack navigated through profound happiness and heartbreak as they built their family. They brought two wonderful children into the world, Mary D’Neil and Brad Alan, and mourned the loss of three little boys: John Elmer, Jay Edward, and Joseph Dale.

At the age of 24 and 25, Dorothy and Jack purchased Childress Electric, with Jack serving as the master electrician. They spent 23 fruitful years in Rawlins, Wyoming, building a life together. The couple later ventured into the ice business, establishing an icehouse and diligently delivering ice to vendors, even in the early hours of the morning at 4am.

In search of new horizons, Dorothy and Jack moved to Saratoga, Wyoming, where they founded SC and E Construction Company. Their endeavors included the development of the Bramde subdivision, named after their children, Brad and Mary D. Jack played a pivotal role in the transformation of Saratoga, instigating the paving of muddy dirt roads. The couple’s hard work and dedication laid the foundation for the first paving district in Saratoga, developing 60 lots with paving and sewer.

Dorothy was an indispensable partner in Jack’s ventures, managing the books for the construction company and supporting him in their various business endeavors. Jack, a lifelong pilot, owned five airplanes and later obtained his real estate license, engaging in property transactions for a decade.

The Sinteks purchased a 40-acre mining plot in the Medicine Bow National Forest in 1983, nurturing the Yankee Jack for nearly 30 years. They first moved a small cabin they found at the dumps up to the forest to live in. However, it quickly expanded as they built a larger cabin onto it, a bunkhouse, and a shop out of the logs from surrounding trees. Jack cut the trees down in the fall, and Dorothy peeled every log by hand in the spring. Powered only by a generator, their mountain cabin became a cherished haven. They enjoyed cabin stays in every season, embracing the rugged beauty of the Wyoming wilderness. In the winters, the couple would snowmobile or Snowcat in, then dig through multiple feet of snow just to get into the door of the cabin. Then the summers were filled with 4-wheeling, nature walks, fishing, and drinking sun tea on their back deck as they watched the wildlife come into enjoy the saltlick and bird feeders nearby. However, their favorite part of the cabin was always hosting their family and friends, together making memories to last a lifetime. She especially loved playing cards, carving aspen trees, doing crafts, and picking wildflowers with her grandkids. “I loved it up there,” Dorothy said in some of her final words.

In her final years, Dorothy and Jack moved to Lakewood, Colorado to be closer to family. The life-long bond she shared with Jack, spanning an incredible 69 years of marriage, serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to one another. “We just became good friends right off the bat and stayed good friends. The biggest thing we had was respect for one another.”

Dorothy said that from the time she was a little girl, she always felt like God was with her. She passed away on the early morning of November 7, 2023, surrounded by family. Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, a sister, and three sons. She is survived by her sister Cheryl Bowen, her brothers Neil and Joe Irene, her husband Jack, and her two children, Mary D, and Brad, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Dorothy’s legacy lives on in the memories of those who were touched by her warmth, resilience, and enduring love. She encouraged others to always be “honest and kind,” and the most important thing she wanted her family to know is, “I couldn’t love any of my family more. I have loved as much as I could love.”

Dorothy wished for her remains to stay with Jack until he passes, at which time a graveside service will be held at the Rawlins Cemetery honoring them both.