Dr. Robert John Vokurka, PhD, 75, met his Savior face to face on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, just days after a long family gathering for Christmas.
He was born June 12, 1948 in Wheaton, Illinois to the union of his parents, John and Charlotte Vokurka.
While at Wheaton Central High School he participated in the high school band and graduated in 1964.
He continued his education at Albion College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1968. While working for Belden Wire and Cable, he passed his CPA exam and earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.
His last few years of service to Belden were fulfilled in a small town called Jena, LA. There, he met and married the former Rowena Randall and was a faithful and gracious husband to her for the remaining 37 years of his life. In addition, he treated her two children from a previous marriage better than most biological fathers treat their children. Upon the birth of his first grandchild, he chose “The Big Bopper” soon shortened to “Bopper” as his grandfather name.
Upon completion of his service to Cooper Belden, he earned his doctorate in business from the Mays School at Texas A&M University. He served as an associate professor in the Industrial Distribution department at A&M until 1997. He served as an associate professor of business at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from 1998-2012, leaving the University as a professor emeritus in recognition for his contributions to the school’s academic standing and educational leadership. Academic publications came early and often, as he authored or co-authored more than 50 in his career.
Dr. Vokurka’s cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont, TX, under the direction of Broussard’s, Kountze.
He is survived by his wife, Rowena; sister, Jean Rooney; sons, Jay Vokurka and Samuel Smith; daughter, Jennifer Smith; grandsons, Joshua Allien (Lyndi); Adam Smith and Aaron Smith; granddaughters, Abigail Wahl (Jansen); Grace Allien; Chloe Smith and Phoebe Smith; and great-grandchildren, Quinn Wahl and Asher Allien.
