Col. Gordon W. Vacura, D.V.M.

Colonel Gordon W. Vacura, D.V.M., 94, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away on Sept. 5, 2012, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Ark. He was born on March 26, 1918, in Jackson, Minn., son of Joseph and Mary Vacura. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1936, attended the University of Minnesota and Kansas State University, graduating with a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1943. He was united in marriage to Mary Alberta Wainscott in 1944. They spent the next 30 years in the military serving in Yugoslavia, Japan, Okinawa and Korea. Dr. Vacura retired from the military as curator of the National Medical Museum. Upon retirement, Dr. Vacura accepted an appointment as chief of meat inspection for the State of Maryland until 1988, when he relocated to Bella Vista, Ark. Dr. Vacura is preceded in death by his wife, Alberta; parents, Joseph and Mary; brothers, Rudolph and Harold; sisters, Helen Betlach, Alice Palmer and Gladys Olson. He is survived by his longtime companion, Ilale Hunt; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at the Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel. Burial with full military honors will take place in Jackson, Minn. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.