Merlin Leon Vacura

Feb. 19, 1981-June 13, 2010

KASILOF, Alaska -- Merlin Leon Vacura, 29, died Sunday (June 13, 2010) in Kasilof.

He was born Feb. 19, 1981 to Bernie Vacura and Carol Bryan and raised on the family farm near Jennings, Kansas. He attended Prairie Heights in Jennings and graduated from Decatur Community High in Oberlin, Kansas.

In 2005, he moved to Alaska where he was a hunting assistant.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Anton and Eva Marie Vacura, and Glen Bryan.

He was a member of WFLA Cesti Vlastenci No. 153.

He is survived by his significant other, Brandi Brock of Kasilof; parents, Carol Gethins of Wichita, Kansas, and Bernie and Othelia Vacura of Oberlin; grandmother, Laurene Bryan VanOtterloo of Oberlin; brothers, Mick and wife Nichole Vacura of Denver, Colorado, and Monty and wife, Teresa Vacura of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania; step-brother, Keith and wife, Karen Miller of Mendon, Illinois; sister, Marie and husband, James Lopez of LaJunta, Colorado; step-sister, Amberley and husband, Reed Denton of Lyons, Kansas; four nieces; and a nephew.

Funeral services are Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin with the Rev. Barbara Patterson officiating. Interment will be at Big Timber Cemetery in rural Jennings.

Visitation is Friday until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until service time.

Memorials can be made to the Merlin Vacura Memorial Fund.

Pauls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.