Emil J. Vacura, 70, of Thief River Falls, MN died on Monday, August 12, 2002 at the Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 16, 2002 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Reverend Arlen Hermodson officiating. Military rites will be provided by the American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793. Burial will be at Barnett National Cemetery Badger, MN at 1:30 PM on Friday.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Friday at the church.

Emil J. Vacura, Jr. was born on July 31, 1932 in Badger, MN, the son of Emil, Sr. and Pearl (Goodwin) Vacura. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and attended Country School in the Badger area. Emil worked on the Family Farm. He entered the United States Army on March 11, 1954 in Fargo. He was stationed on Antiwetok Island. Emil was Honorably Discharged on March 9, 1956.

He was united in marriage to Gwendolyn Potts in 1956. To this union five children were born, Julie, Mike, Marvin, Janis and Adele. Emil was united in marriage to Lyla Troland in 1980 at Redeemer Lutheran Church. The couple continued to live in Thief River Falls.

Emil took over the Family Farm and ran it for a few years and also worked construction for many years. Emil eventually went to work for Farmers Union in Thief River Falls and for the last 13 years he worked at the O.D.C. in Thief River Falls, as a carpenter.

He enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and hunting. Emil also did a lot of woodworking.

Emil is survived by his wife Lyla of Thief River Falls, MN; four children: Julie (John) Pacheco of Webster, FL, Adele (James) Blake of Michigan City, IN, Janis (Jeff) Ransom of Michigan City, IN, and Marvin Vacura of Oxford, FL; three step children: Lana (Carter) Schultz of Casselton, ND, Mark Troland of Fridley, MN and Lori Troland of Texas; 13 grandchildren: Virginia Sigle, Elizabeth Walker, Brian Vacura, Angela Vacura, Brylee Ransom, Laura Ransom, Andrew Ransom, James Blake, Joann Blake, Kevin Schultz, Steven Schultz, Brandon Troland and Angela Troland.; one great granddaughter, Jordan Sigle; two brothers: Morris (Sharon) Vacura and David Vacura, both of Badger, MN; one sister, Irene Svir of Badger, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Michael; one sister, Lucille Thompson; and one brother, Bob Vacura.