Racine County lost a dedicated public servant and volunteer Monday in a motorcycle crash in Nevada.

Ken Vetrovec, 59, was killed just outside Ely, Nev., heading home from a motorcycle trip along Route 66.

Vetrovec was a former Racine county supervisor and board chairman. For the past five years he had been the executive director of Gateway Technical College's foundation.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Ken's family as he has led an inspirational journey in life," said Gateway President Bryan Albrecht. "The Gateway community is deeply saddened by his loss and honors Ken for his compassionate service to others."

Albrecht said the motorcycle ride was an annual summer cross-country trip for Vetrovec. In a blog, Vetrovec chronicled his trip along Route 66 from Chicago, Ill. to Santa Monica, Calif.

According to the online record, he left from Chicago on June 23. Vetrovec was headed toward home when he was involved in the crash that took his life. He was riding his motorcycle east on Highway 6, about 37 miles east of Ely, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Just before 5 p.m., Vetrovec was apparently trying to take a photograph while traveling down a slight left hand curve, said a press release from the highway patrol. He drifted off the right dirt shoulder, where his motorcycle hit a steel road marker and overturned several times.

Troopers said Vetrovec was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries as a result. He was wearing a helmet.

In Vetrovec's last blog, which he posted at 7:55 a.m. Monday, he wrote:

"Enjoyed lunch in a small town called Big Pine. Had prime rib in a casino in Carson City because the price was right. From now on, the bike will be headed east. I have logged over 3,500 miles on the trip odometer."

Vetrovec loved his Indian motorcycle, according to Pamela Zenner-Richards, a county supervisor and chair of Gateway's Board of Trustees. "He was doing what he loved," she said.

Zenner-Richards remembers when Albrecht had each staff member spend the day with him doing whatever they wanted to do. "(Albrecht) spent the day with Ken on his motorcycle," she said. "Ken drove him around the county. The vision of that always tickled me."

Those who have worked with Vetrovec were shocked to hear of his death Tuesday, and said Racine County had lost once of its most dedicated public servants.

"I will miss him," Zenner-Richards said. "He was very devoted to this community. He was very devoted to Gateway and became a real advocate for this school."

Ron Coutts, who was elected Caledonia Village Board President after a race against Vetrovec in 2007, said Vetrovec was the kind of community volunteer who could always be called upon to help with any issue. "He'd be right there to jump in and help out," Coutts said. "It's hard to believe. He's going to be very missed."

He said even after the election, Vetrovec told him he would be willing to help serve in any capacity Coutts needed him to.

"He was a great gentleman," Coutts said.

Vetrovec served six terms as a county supervisor from 1994 to 2006.

He was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts in Racine County. An Eagle Scout, Vetrovec also earned the District Award of Merit. In 2007 was honored with the Cliff Dochterman Award, which is given to Rotarians dedicated to scouting.

"His heart was always in the right place," said Racine County Executive William McReynolds. "He was very community minded; very involved. He attempted, always, to bring people together."