Vernon Malcolm Seieroe of Colorado passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.
Vern was born to Elmer and Helen (Hunter) Seieroe on July 12, 1947, in Colfax, Iowa.
Vern is survived by his daughter Brittany (Chad) Pettrone, two grandchildren Adrian and Aviana Pettrone, and former wife Julianne Seieroe. He is also survived by his sister Amy (Shawn) Wilkenson, and nephews Casey and Zach (Liza) Seieroe. He was preceded in death by his daughter Angela, brother Jim, sister-in-law Deb and parents Elmer and Helen.
As a boy, Vern earned his Eagle Scout award, enjoyed catching fish in the South Skunk Creek, and worked as a lifeguard during high school.
Vern attended the University of Northern Iowa after High School and was encouraged by several professors to pursue a degree in architecture.
In August of 1968, at the age of 21, Vern joined the US Army and served the 168th Engineering Brigade as a combat engineer in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged with several medals.
After completing his military service Vern graduated from CU Boulder with a B.A. in Environmental Design followed by an M.A. in Architecture and Urban Design at CU Denver.
As a professional architect in Boulder, Vern designed and built a geodesic dome in the foothills of Boulder where he and his wife Julianne raised their two daughters, Angela and Brittany. Vern had been intimately involved in the design of many remarkable landmark buildings, some of his most notable structures and renovations include the Boulder Public Library, Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse, Mackey Auditorium, Old Main Chapel, as well as many other businesses and residential spaces.
When Vern was not working, he was traveling the world with his wife and daughters exploring architecture, art museums, and celebrating cultures. He had visited Italy, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Samoa, England, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Tajikistan.
Vern also volunteered on boards such as Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Longmont Firehouse Museum, Boulder Heights Fire Dept, Colorado Music Festival, Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities and Nablus Sister Cities.
He enjoyed being connected to nature and was an avid gardener. He brought his love of nature into his work and connected architecture with landscapes.
One of the last things he taught his 4-year-old grandson was how to meticulously maneuver a pen to draw a straight line. An act that seems so basic but was the means of projecting his life’s work onto paper.
One nice part about Vern’s legacy is that we can look around town and still see him. There are many spaces he shaped that have enriched the experiences of residents and visitors alike. He was a forward-looking person who will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and community.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, May 8th from 5:00 pm -7:30 pm MT at the Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse. In lieu of flowers, please consider the needs of the family.
