Midura was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and spent his early years moving through various communities in the surrounding region. He entered the workforce at 14, beginning on a tobacco farm in East Windsor, Connecticut. By 16, he was employed at a supermarket within the First National grocery chain.

In the years that followed, he held a wide range of jobs, including work in two local factories—one producing corrugated beer boxes and another manufacturing metal tubing. Other roles included store clerk, short-order cook, and night clerk at a local motel. He also served two years as a drafted soldier, including 13 months in Asia.

Without any formal training, Midura developed his practice independently. Through years of careful study and by copying the works of masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Vermeer, van Ruisdael, Degas, Lautrec, and Sargent, he honed his technique and deepened his understanding of the craft.