James (Tom) Thomas Albracht

James Thomas (Tom) Albracht, 68, of Grain Valley, Missouri, passed away on February 17, 2021. Tom was the oldest of four brothers born to James and Mary Lou Albracht on July 3, 1952, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The family lived in Nebraska and Michigan before settling in Manhattan, Kansas in 1966. Tom graduated from Luckey High School in 1970. He then attended Kansas State where he participated in the Student Government Association serving as a student senator. Tom earned his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1975 and his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in 1981 through Kansas State University. Upon graduation, he taught secondary education in Holton and Randolph, Kansas. He later worked as an educator in Oklahoma through Mustang Public Schools and Oklahoma City Public Schools. This was a time of his life he remembered fondly. His mother, who strongly valued higher education herself, inspired Tom to earn a Master’s in Library Science through Emporia State University in 1991. From there, Tom spent the next 25 years working as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He genuinely enjoyed making connections with other people through his work at various VA hospitals in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kansas City, MO. Tom retired in 2016. Tom valued his Catholic faith, enjoyed working on cars, computers, reading, and following K-State sports. He had a strong interest in family genealogy and even traveled to Europe in 2005 and 2009 to meet relatives. The theory and impact of political matters were among Tom’s favorite conversation topics. His nieces and nephews admired Tom for his smarts, humor, and knack for fixing things. Tom was preceded in death by his parents James Joseph Albracht and Mary Lou Albracht. He is survived by his brothers Stephen of Asheville, North Carolina, David and his wife Teri of Kansas City, Kansas, and Robert and his wife Karla of Fairfax, Virginia, as well as several nieces and nephews: Stephanie, James, Courtney, Lindsay, Ryan, Tyler, Gloria, and Grace. Tom will be missed by his family and many friends, including his dear friend, Jaylene Johnson. Arrangements are being handled by Carlson’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home. Visitation will be at 9:00 am Saturday, April 10, 2021, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, Kansas. Burial will follow at Sunrise Cemetery. The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Carlsons-Irvin-Parkview-Funeral-Home-Cremation-125095364277630 A memorial scholarship for J. Thomas Albracht has been established at the Kansas State University Foundation. Contributions may be sent to KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan, KS 66502; please indicate fund M47347. To make a gift online, go to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials.