Vancura has worked for decades in woodworking, acrylic painting and nature photography. In retirement he creates gifts for family and friends, including bird calendars.

His wife, Ellen, a retired local physician, is a master gardener. Her pollinator-friendly backyard attracts hummingbirds and monarch butterflies and often inspires his nature-themed work. One flower in the garden is the O.J. Seifert iris, named after Ellen’s grandfather.

Vancura said his interest in woodworking came from his grandfather, Anton Vancura, a Czech immigrant who settled in Tabor, South Dakota. 

“He didn’t have computers or fancy tools. He just worked with wood.” One of his grandfather’s pieces is displayed in the home.

Photo by Amy Zents E. Jay Vancura holds his 2026 Bird Calendar featuring Birds of New Mexico. The cover shows an Elegant Trogon.

The current diamond willow chess set is challenging because the wood is soft. Vancura designs around the dark knots. 

“I do most of the carving with sanding bits,” he said. 

He learned through trial and error after an earlier project with ash did not work. The set includes knights with horse heads and shields. A previous walnut chess set was made for his son Jimmy.

Vancura is largely self-taught in acrylic painting and drawing. His home features many of his paintings, created mostly from books. 

Subjects include scenes from Prague’s Charles Bridge, Santorini, a Shinto temple in Japan and the northern lights at the family’s cabin near Walker. 

Submitted photo A walnut chess set carved by E. Jay Vancura for his son Jimmy. One of Vancura’s earlier completed works.

He has also painted family portraits of his grandchildren Edith and Jack Vancura Bauer and overpainted canvas prints of his own photographs. “I always liked drawing in high school,” Vancura said.

One favorite painting was created for his son Jimmy, a guitar player.

Vancura is also an active photographer. Another favorite piece shows an eclipse he photographed in Texas. “I just like doing it. It’s relaxing,” Vancura said.

He attended Omaha Central High School and Creighton University, where he met his wife Ellen, a lifelong New Ulm resident. 

Vancura earned advanced pharmacy credentials, including studies connected to Case Western Reserve University.

Paintings and photographs by E. Jay Vancura displayed in his New Ulm home.

Vancura retired in 2020. He and his wife moved to their current one-level home on Cottonwood Street in 2015 after downsizing from a larger five-bedroom house on Summit.

At their lake property near Walker on Leech Lake, Vancura has a full workshop where he makes charcuterie boards, often working with his son Jimmy, who makes most of the wooden bowls. Most pieces are gifts for family and friends.

Ellen’s garden brings nature close to home. The couple enjoys birding together. “Ellen started birding and it’s just fun,” Vancura said. That interest led to his annual bird calendars.

His latest is the 2026 Bird Calendar featuring Birds of New Mexico. The cover shows an Elegant Trogon. Each month features a different bird. He prints about 30 copies each year to share with family and friends.

Vancura said he makes the calendars for joy. “I make about thirty and send them to all the families.” The calendars serve as both art and an educational tool about bird species.

Vancura remains humble about his work. “I can’t classify myself as good or bad or anything because I just do it,” he said. He creates for personal satisfaction rather than public exhibits. “I do it for love.”

Family is central to his motivation. He and Ellen have children and grandchildren across Minnesota, including in the Twin Cities and Long Prairie, where son Jimmy practices law. Jimmy’s wife comes from a family farm out by Long Prairie.

In retirement Vancura continues the creative tradition from his grandfather. He moves between woodworking at the lake, photography and painting.

New Ulm residents may know the Vancura name through Ellen’s family roots, which include early settlers such as Johann Seifert. Vancura, originally from Omaha, has made his home here since moving to the area.

Vancura and his wife plan to attend the first Vancura family reunion in South Dakota and then spend time at the lake. He is working to finish the chess set by July 5 for his grandson Jack’s birthday.