Milton (Milt) John Spaniel, born to Czech farming immigrants, Leslie and Antonie Valek Spaniel, in Ennis, Texas on May 13, 1936, passed away peacefully at his home on August 14, 2022 with his loving wife of 61 years, Janice Spaniel, and his two children, Tom Spaniel and Molly Spaniel, by his side.
He will be welcomed in heaven by his parents, Leslie and Antonie Spaniel, along with his brotherin- law, Tony Prachyl, his parents-in-law, Charlie and Martha Kocian, his granddaughter, Bryce Elizabeth Spaniel, and his cherished grand-dogs, Astro, Pepper, Max, Lucky, Schatze, and Tina.
He will be lovingly remembered by many friends and family, including the love of his life, Janice Spaniel, his son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Kelly Spaniel, and their children, Shelby, Abby and Griffin Spaniel. He is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Molly Spaniel and Seth Conley and their respective children, Reilly Spaniel and Miles Conley. Finally, he will be survived by a 61-year-old deep freezer that will probably continue to keep food frozen out in the garage for another 61 years.
After Milt graduated from St. John’s Catholic High School in Ennis, TX in 1955, he headed Navarro College until he saved enough money to attend the University of North Texas where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1960. Immediately following college, he joined the United States Air Force, stationed in Amarillo from 1960 to 1966 and received the American Spirit Honor Medal for his outstanding qualities of leadership best expressing “Honor, Loyalty and High Example to Comrades in Arms” and learned valuable skills for his 32-year career in the defense industry as a Manufacturing Engineering Project Manager in production of aircraft and rocket launchers for domestic and international programs at Vought, LTV, and Lockheed Martin, most notably the MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) program, which took him to many places around the world including Turkey, Pakistan, Germany and Japan.
His children and grandchildren were Milt’s proudest achievement. He loved staying active and involved in their school and extracurricular activities. He and Janice never missed a “Grandparents Day.” A little-known fact, he was instrumental in keeping St. Rita Catholic School open when it was at risk of closing in the early 70’s through his aggressive campaigning for the school with the head of the Catholic schools in Dallas. He was thrilled to be an assistant scoutmaster, helping scouts earn merit badges and helping his son, Tom, earn the most challenging and highest honor of scouting, his Eagle Scout badge. He also helped run the Junior Golf program in Hot Springs Village after realizing his first grandson, Reilly Spaniel, had a natural talent for golf. He stayed involved in Junior Golf to see his other 3 grandchildren participate and win various awards as well. While his grandson Reilly was in the Indian Guides program at the YMCA, he loved being able to contribute a unique advantage over the competition for his Indian Guides Pine Car Derby Race by having aerospace engineers design his pine car for maximum speed and wind resistance. (no cheating involved though!). A devout Catholic, Milt was very involved in his church communities, St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Hot Springs Village, where he either ran or participated in events such as the Annual St. Rita Seafood Dinner, St. Rita Men’s Club, Adoration Chapel, and countless others. Representing the Knights of Columbus Council #10208 from 2002-2007 as a 3rd and 4th degree Knight, he founded and chaired “Friends of St. Michaels” to help the Sisters of Charity in Hot Springs, AR raise funds, renovate, and transition their establishment to a childcare program after their school closed. He was awarded Knight of the Year in 2004 by his local Council and by the Arkansas State Council in recognition of his outstanding service, leadership and for his support of their “Order Principles.” He continued community work for his Council as a Community Director from 2010-2016, chairing 14 programs that raised over $100,000 in funds for families in need, including People with Intellectual Disabilities (PID), Special Olympics and 5 other charitable organizations. For his many endeavors, he was awarded Knight of the Year by his local Knights of Columbus council three times plus Knight of the Month numerous times. As a proud first-generation Czech-American, Milt founded and spearheaded the Dallas/Brno Sister Cities program from 1991-1999 which brought important municipal and national dignitaries to and from Dallas and Brno, Czech Republic. He also loved to attend events at the Czech Hall in Dallas and dance the waltz or polkas with Janice. Upon retirement in 1999, he and Janice moved from North Dallas to their lake house in Hot Springs Village, AR and continued to travel around Europe as much as they could. It should be noted that his 3-ring planning binders were a masterpiece to behold. There has never been a more thorough prevacation or pre-event planning compilation of information before or since. When he wasn’t traveling, he could be found playing golf, fly fishing at the “Little Red,” taking friends and family for countless boat rides, tinkering in his expansive garden, making to-do lists or one of his many “signature” planning binders, grilling a rack of ribs that would make Aaron Franklin’s mouth water, or giving back to his community through his church or through his leadership in the Knights of Columbus.
As anyone who knew him would agree, Milt could be stubborn, fiercely saddled to his point of view despite any evidence to the contrary, and aggressively persistent until a task was finished. But above all, he was always present for and relentlessly protective of his family. He will be missed by many.
A funeral mass will be held for Milt on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 12:15 p.m. at St Joseph Catholic Church, 600 East Marvin Avenue, Waxahachie, TX 75165. A reception will follow immediately at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 325 Broadhead Rd, Waxahachie, TX 75165. The burial will be attended by immediate family only in the Mausoleum at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Dallas, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family humbly requests that donations be sent in Milt’s name to any of the charities close to his heart: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital People with Intellectual Disabilities (PID) Special Olympics Alzheimer’s Association American Cancer Society
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