Dragutin Vicentic passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, a week before he would have turned the age of 94. Dragutin passed away peacefully in the arms of his beloved wife Stojna Vicentic.
Dragutin was born on the outskirts of Sabac, Yugoslavia during time of communistic rule and just before the Great Depression; the second eldest son of three sons and a sister.
In 1961 Dragutin went to Germany as his gateway to America. This was a dream of many. He visited home frequently and during a visit in 1963, he met a friend of his sister. Her name was Stojna. They instantly fell in love and married within two weeks. She went with him back to Germany. As they created a life together, they gave birth to their first child, a son, Dragan. By 1967 they were able to receive citizenship and came to the United States. They started in Chicago amongst the large Serbian community. Dragutin opened his first successful business in America, DSD Dragutin, Stojna & Dragan) Smoked Meats. Dragana wasn't born yet, but came soon after.
In 1977, the family moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Hot Springs was a place that reminded Dragutin of the town he grew up. It was a smaller quaint town and a safer place to raise children. He continued his smoked meat business and founded a restaurant bringing European flare to Hot Springs.
Dragutin was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers Dragic Vicentic and Stevan Vicentic and sister Dusanka Jancic; niece Vesna Jancic. He is survived by his wife Stojna Vicentic; children Dragan Vicentic and Dragana Vicentic-Prodanovic; grandchildren Spencer Vicentic and Chase Vicentic; and daughter in-law Krista Vicentic and son in-law Zoran Prodanovic. Other relatives in Chicago, Serbia, England and Switzerland.
A visitation for Dragutin is planned for Saturday, July 2, 2022, from 10 am to 11 am. And a service from 11 am to 12 pm. The visitation will be at the Gross Funeral Home on 120 Wrights St. All are invited to attend. The funeral will follow afterwards at 1 pm in the Crestview Memorial Park Cemetary 3077 East Grand Service Road at the Vicentic family plot. Pallbearers will be Joey Clampit, Roy Germany, Mike King, Richard Midkiff, Russell Thomas and Zoran Prodanovic. Honorary ball bearers will be Fred Heinemann and Byrum Hurst.
