Born in Yuma, Colorado on Feb. 13. 1941 to Roy Chester Dilka and Zelda Fern Dilka, Henry Joseph Dilka, Sr. was a unique young man for his generation in the territory of Eckley, Colorado. At first he was a typical country boy who played baseball in fields with brothers and sisters and neighbors, and who helped brothers with newspaper routes from a bicycle.

In 1952, at the age of 11 years old, when the disease Polio struck the area, Henry was one of its targets. He spent a year between his home in Eckley, Colorado and Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado to get well. During one of his times there, the electricity at the hospital was knocked out by a storm and some of the boys in the ward were commandeered to keep the iron lungs running by hand crank generators. Henry talked fondly many times of being able to help those kids stay alive. This began his journey in proving that people living with the permanent effects of polio could and would be valuable to the public despite their “handicaps.” Henry was also featured in the Rocky Mountain News during a stay at Children’s in an article covering the realities of polio and the kids in the wards.

Henry’s bout with polio left his left leg totally paralyzed so when he returned, he needed the aid of a brace and/or crutches. But he returned to school and his neighborhood fully intending to fit in just like the other kids. For the most part, he was able to do just that. He did learn that the world can be cruel to those with physical challenges, and that limitations were a reality. It lit a fire in him and he became an example and an advocate in his own subtle ways. There was not much someone told him he could NOT do that he would prove them wrong about.

Henry graduated from Haxtun High School in Haxtun, Colorado in the 60’s. During his days in high school, he met his first wife; Joy Ann Schaefer. Shortly after she graduated, a year or so later than he, they were married and began an adventure of exploring opportunities offered in Colorado.

Those adventures included running a service station in Kremling, Colorado. During that time, he had assisted the Douglas County Sheriff’s office in solving a series of robberies in the area. As a result, they made him a Special Deputy and put him to work at a nearby raceway.

Their early adventures brought them their first son; Henry Joseph Dilka, Jr. And they continued on for five years before welcoming their daughter; Louisa Ann, and a year and half later son Jarrett Heath joined in the family. By now they had reached Greeley, Colorado where they settled for Henry to become a certified mechanic under the Dodge/Chrysler Corporation at a local shop. He drew on his youthfully gained experience working on tractors, generator motors, other farm equipment, and personal automobiles throughout his teenage years and early youth. Henry was a certified mechanic for Dodge/Chrysler, Chevrolet, and Ford Motor Company during a nearly 25 to 30 year official career, and another 20 years unofficial, that he was very proud of. His motivation as a mechanic was keeping every client safe and mobile.

In the late 70’s Henry and Joy came to Sterling, Colorado to settle. They were divorced in ’78 and in 1979, on August 25th, Henry took Marie Simon as his second wife. He was widowed by Marie in May of 2004, and he remained single from that point on.

Henry was forced into retirement because of age and health in the late 1990’s. But he would not just quit working. He held several jobs to keep active until the early 2000’s; when he just could not work anymore. After retirement Henry turned to paint by number kits and collecting family photos and history, and taking long drives through the Sterling area to pass the time.

Henry is preceeded in death by ex-wife Joy Ann, beloved wife Marie, and his parents: Roy Chester Dilka and Zelda Fern Dilka. He is also joining brothers Kenneth; Leroy, Sr.; and Walter; and sister Lois, as well as multiple beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends in heaven.

Henry is survived by brother Chester “Chet”, and sister Lola. His children also remain to carry on his legacies: Henry Joseph Dilka, Jr.; Louisa Maness (Michael); Jarrett Dilka (Jeanine). Grandchildren remaining are Tonita Maness, Veronica Maness, Ashlynn Grace Bailey, and three others. Great grandchildren are Killian Maness, Tristan Kilbourn, and one other.

Henry was a beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, Big Papa, friend and so much more to all who knew and loved him. His examples will live on, and he will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations toward cremation can be made through Ever Loved or through Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. 

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