Obituary of Vernon Malcom Seieroe

Vernon Malcolm Seieroe of Colorado passed away peacefully on March 20, 2023, surrounded by family and friends from health complications of exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the US Army in Vietnam.

  Vern was born July 12, 1947, in Colfax, Iowa. Vern is survived by his daughter Brittany (Chad) Pettrone, two grandchildren Adrian and Aviana Pettrone, sister Amy Wilkinson (Shaun) and former wife Julianne Seieroe. He was preceded in death by his daughter Angela, brother Jim and parents Elmer and Helen.

  Vern attended the University of Northern Iowa and was encouraged by several professors to pursue a degree in architecture. Before he went on to pursue that degree, in August of 1968, at the age of 21, Vern joined the US Army and served 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 a M.A. in Architecture and Urban Design at CU Denver. As a professional architect in Boulder, 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 and Mackey Auditorium, as well as many other businesses and residential spaces.

   When Vern was not working, he was traveling with his wife and daughters exploring architecture, art museums, and cultures. Vern also volunteered on boards such as Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Longmont Firehouse Museum, Boulder Heights Fire Dept, Colorado Music Festival, Boulder-Dushanbe and Nablus Sister Cities. In his later years, Vern did everything he could to spend time with his grandchildren.

  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.

    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 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 8 th from 5:00 pm -7:30 pm MT at the Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse. In lieu of flowers, please consider the needs of the family during this time and donate here: https://gofund.me/775fc1ad