Antonio C. Vargas

Longtime Fairbanks, Alaska, resident Antonio C. Vargas, 77, passed away on April 4, 2021, at home surrounded by his loving family. When Tony entered hospice, the on-call nurse asked him what he wanted to accomplish in the last bit of time he had, and he said he wanted to spend his remaining time with family and that he hoped he could live long enough to join his beloved wife, Connie, in the celebration of their 59th wedding anniversary. While they won't get to celebrate that big day, Tony spent his last weeks, and really the past year, surrounded by family, and this was what made him the happiest.
Tony was born on August 1943 in Arizona to Consuelo Olivo. His father, Baldomero Vargas, went off to World War II before Tony was born and never returned. His mother later remarried, and Tony eventually became the oldest of four half siblings.
After graduating from high school, Tony proudly served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1981. During this time, Tony met the love of his life, Connie, in El Paso, in 1962, while stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. It was love at first sight and they married after an intense three-month courtship. A year later their daughter Delia was born. In 1964 Connie and Delia were able to join Tony in Fairbanks. Together, they lived at the Tamarack Inn off of Minnie Street and walked everywhere since they did not have a car. Their sons, Tony and Ruben, were both born at Fort Wainwright, and in between the two boys' births, "Big" Tony was called to serve in Vietnam and later, in Seoul, Korea. After retiring from the Army, Tony spent the next 15 years working for the state of Alaska Correctional Facility in Fairbanks and made lifelong friends, both staff and inmates, while there.
Tony lived life big. He was gregarious and a force of nature. He was loved by all that knew him. Tony was a loyal friend and big brother, a wonderful husband and caring father. He was a generous spirit, and he treated people fairly. Tony enjoyed family camping trips and later, annual RV trips with the grandkids to the Anchor River. He shared Alaska with visiting friends and family but also loved to travel, especially to see family in California and Arizona. He was an avid fly fisherman and also enjoyed dipnetting, fishing for halibut, and taking the grandkids to fish at Birch Lake. He loved to cook and would call the kids over to try out a new recipe. Tony made the best chili, slow cooked ribs and an incredible cooked ham/melted cheese avocado sandwich on rye with sprouts. Tony was also a connoisseur of fine wine, scotch and cigars. Boy, did he love his cigars! His one lament was that he would not have enough time to smoke all of his cigars. He also enjoyed hosting regular poker nights with friends and was looking forward to getting in one last game before he succumbed to cancer.
Tony was diagnosed with stage IV renal carcinoma in late summer 2017 and was given an initial prognosis of up to one year. He was so happy to have surpassed that initial date and to live as long as he did. His many joys included getting to spoil his great-grandchildren. Tony was stoic through it all and during his last hospital stint, when he was told that his time might be drawing to a close, Tony said, "well, Doc, it was a good run while it lasted."
Tony was preceded in death by his youngest son, Ruben Vargas; his brother, Jimmy Olivo; his mom, Consuelo Olivo; and Aunt (Tia) Catalina. Tony is survived by his wife, Connie; two children, Delia (Carl) and Tony (Lucero); grandchildren, Brianna (Steven) and Conlin; great-grandchildren, Stevie and Isabella; brother, Noe Olivo (Anna); sister-in-law, Liz Olivo; brother-in-law, Raul (Marta); cousin, Fina Gil; countless nephews and nieces and friends that thought the world of him; and a large extended family in California, Arizona, Texas and Mexico.
Tony was loved and will be sorely missed. The family would like to thank staff at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice Services for their support during his last two weeks and to the Fairbanks Cancer Treatment Center for their compassionate care. And thanks to all for the love and support you have extended to our family during this difficult time.
Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at Northern Lights Memorial Park, 2318 Yankovich Road, Fairbanks, Alaska on July 20, 2021, at 2 p.m.