Albert Raymond Vacura

Albert Raymond Vacura, an Alaskan pioneer and well loved husband and father left us peacefully April 29, 2008.

During his last months, he and his children were blessed with opportunities to spend time together and say good-bye before Alzheimer’s disease took his life.

Al was born May 11, 1922, in Plains, Mont., to Annie and Louie Vacura.

After graduating high school, Al traveled to Cordova where he worked as a surveyor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 1942, he transferred to Juneau, Alaska, where he met his future bride, Helen Miller.

In 1943, he was drafted into the Army and served three years in the Aleutian Islands. After World War II ended, he married Helen Jan. 27, 1946.

Al and Helen moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1947 where he eventually began a flooring business. He teamed up with his foster son, John Hajdukovich, and they built Florcraft into a thriving business.

In May 1987, Albert retired and sold his business to Richard Wein and his longtime manager and friend, Bob Hanson.

While a successful businessman, Al was also involved in his community. He served many years as a member and chairman of the Alaska Housing Authority under Gov. Bill Egan.

He was a long time active member of the Elks Lodge, Fairbanks Curling Club and Fairbanks Golf and County Club where he also spent many years on the board.

Al spent countless hours supporting the Fairbanks Catholic Church and schools.

He was a charter member in the Monroe Booster Club and a member of the board of the Monroe Foundation. He worked tirelessly every year on HIPOW from its earliest inception.

Al loved coaching his children in basketball, coaching referees from the sidelines and critiquing coaches from his armchair.

He almost never missed a game even if it meant traveling the state following the high school teams. Even in retirement, he followed his grandchildren in their sports, attending as many games as he could.

While proud of his business successes, Al’s true source of pride, happiness and occasional joy were his children.

Together, Al and Helen raised 10 children, two of whom were foster that he loved and raised as his own. He was proud of each and every child and enjoyed nothing more than his time spent with them.

Al is survived by his brothers, Joe and Bodley; sisters, Levina Noll, Ramona Larson and Roxy Brothers; sons and daughters-in-law, Allen and Karla, Peter and Tracy, Tony and Jude and foster son John Hajdukovich and Marcia; daughters and sons-in-law, Rosemary and Jay Hodges, Marcy and Gary Saunders, Becky and Michael Lessley, Patty and Glenn Hollands and Julie and Whitney Boise; 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Albert and Helen Vacura Memorial Fund Monroe Foundation, P.O. Box 71620, Fairbanks, AK 99707.