Anthony Stephen Slovacek
November 1, 1938 ~ October 22, 2012
Resided in:
Hendersonville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
LTC (Ret.) Anthony Stephen Slovacek
Hendersonville, NC~ St. Michael the Arch Angel has called another paratrooper home. LTC (Ret.) Anthony Stephen Slovacek, 73, of Hendersonville, died Monday, October 22, 2012 at the Charles George VA Medical Center.
A native of Schenectady, NY, Anthony was a son of the late Anthony and Esther Kovarovic Slovacek.
He was a 1960 graduate of the Citadel and served as a career soldier for 27 years. An Airborne Ranger, he had earned the Master Parachutist's Badge and the Pathfinder Badge. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam earning three purple hearts, five Bronze Star medals, seven Air Medals and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Before retirement from the US Army in 1987, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He later served as a Department of Defense Civilian, working with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools System and the US Army Personnel Command in Europe.
He and his wife retired to Hendersonville, NC in 1996. Enjoying his adopted hometown, he served on the City Tree Board and on the Hendersonville Planning Board. He was member of Apple Country Woodcrafters and Greenville Woodworkers Guild. He served Western North Carolina high school athletics as a soccer referee for several years. He volunteered with the Henderson County Chapter of the American Red Cross and North Carolina Cooperative Extension as a Master Gardner. He was a mentor to 4-H Youth in the Mini-Garden and Creative Garden Programs. He was a member of St. Barnabas Catholic Church.
Tony is survived by his wife of 49 years, "BJ" Kinns Slovacek; four daughters, Stephanie Slovacek Johnson and her husband, Johnny, of Columbia, SC, Jennifer Slovacek Lintz and her husband, Larry, of Dayton, OH, Sara Slovacek Greene and her husband, Mark, of Shelby, NC and Amy Slovacek Bigham and her husband, Jim, of Columbia, SC; three sisters, Nancy Elliott of Tampa, FL, Jane Reitmeier and her husband, Bill, of Roebuck, SC and Carol Thompson and her husband, Eric, of Greenville, SC; nine grandchildren, Christopher and Patrick Johnson, Zachary, Katie and Anthony Lintz, Benjamin and Ashleigh Greene and Tessa and Chloe Bigham as well as several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 26, 2012 at St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church with Father Adrian Porras officiating. There will be a reception at the church immediately following the Mass. The burial with full military honors will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, November 2, 2012 at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, SC.
In lieu of flowers, the family graciously asks to consider a memorial contribution in Tony's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P O Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675; or The Henderson County Chapter American Red Cross, 203 Second Ave E, Hendersonville 28792 or your local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
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Rest in Peace brother.
Amy,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Scott
You are in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad time. We pray you will find comfort in the many memories you hold in your hearts until you meet again.’Tears are Gods gift to us. Our Holy water. They heal us as they flow’.
Amy
I so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
An amazing life of service, but more important is his legacy of character that is inherited by his daughter. We are sorry for your loss. Your entire family is in our prayers.
Slovacek Family,
As a close friend of Amy’s I have had the privilege of hearing many stories about your family so I feel like I know you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time. Love, Dennis & Lorrie Lewis, Brunswick, GA
May God hold him in the palm of his hands.He is home.
We are free because of your service. Jim and Amy have a wonderful life because of your love. Sir, you are now free and have eternal life because of our Lord.
Respectfully on behalf of the JFK-based JetBlue Pilots,
Trey Stackman
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Slovacek family during this difficult time.
Bob Crouch, Heidelberg High School ’86
My family is profoundly sorry for your loss. Such a great role model as a husband, father, soldier, and man! He raised some terrific young ladies. God Bless Mr. Slovacek, your life & service had an Impact!
BJ, our thoughts are with you. Sorry for your loss. I would like, one last time, to thank him for his service. I enjoyed knowing him and working with him. (Would never have picked him out of a lineup using that photo! He certainly looked like a dashing young Captain.)
Amy, I will keep you and your Daddy in my prayers. God will be with you!
Thinking of your family during this difficult time. Hoping you find comfort with each other and know there is an abundance of love surrounding you. Amy is my best friend of 28 years and I am sorry I can’t be there to hold your hand. But know I love you and your whole family and will continue to love you through this too. Be strong and hold your loved ones close and know you are blessed.
Like everything else in life – Colonel Slovacek, Tony, Opa, went out with his boots on!
My thoughts are with you and your family as you celebrate the honorable life of your father. Love, Ila
May God watch over you and your family and give you the strength you need.
My thoughts and prayers go with you. God bless and walk well.
In federation love, Julene
Amy: What an amazing man your father was. I know how sad you and your family must be to no longer have him in your life, but you are exuding the peace that passeth all understanding—that peace lies in the promise that life is everlasting and you will be reunited one day. Praying for continued peace, hope, comfort and reassurance in the days to come for all.
B.J.and family, A lifetime of service to our country and the fruit of a loving family go before Tony. May you be strengthened in faith with the blessed assurance of all God’s promises of eternal peace in His presence for Tony..he is safely home now. Lovingly, Lyn&Tony
Amy, your Dad was the epitome of an American patriot and if that was not enough, he continued giving to his community after he retired. Not only a huge loss for you and your family but for America (and Hendersonville) as well. God bless you all.
With deepest sympathy.
Steve and Cindy Smith
Dear Johnnie and Amy,
My prayers are with you in the loss of your dad, and BJ, my prayers are with you as well. May he rest in peace. With fond memories,
Fr. Bob+
Our deepest condolences. Your father sounds like an amazing man. I am sure he is very proud of what an amazing woman and friend you have become Amy. Andy & I are sending our thoughts, love and prayers.
Dear BJ,
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. I have very fond memories of Tony and yourself. He was a presence whenever he walked into a room and we all liked it when you kept him straight on the facts. I will miss him a great deal.
Stay strong and you have our Blessings. Jeff(Stoney) and Vicki
Amy,I am so sad to hear about your father’s passing. I know how proud you are of all he did for his country, his community and his family. You and your family are in my prayers.
I just wanted the family to know how much we appreciated Mr. Tony.He was mentor to my children Jacob and Lindsey.He always made time to talk to Lindsey about her garden.Then we had the pleasure having him present a award to Jacob.He was a real friend to my whole family.To Ms. BJ we love you.I know that you miss him.But the memories will help to ease the pain.If you need anything do not hesitate to let us know.We are willing to help.With love the Bryant Family.
His memory will live forever through the lives he touched. No better leader, no more loyal friend.
His memory will live forever through the lives he touched. No better leader, no more loyal friend.
His memory will live forever through the lives he touched. No better leader, no more loyal friend.
His memory will live forever through the lives he touched. No better leader, no more loyal friend.
BJ & Girls…
I will always cherish the special times I have had with you all, & I am extremely proud to have had Tony as my brother-in-law. May God Bless each of you giving you comfort & peace always.
Our Love Dan & Heidi xxoo
We knew Tony for a short time but now we have known him forever. The Lord gave him life and Tony lived it to perfection! We will miss him but we will never forget him.
BJ,
Tony was the first Woodcrafter that I met. After joining the Board I saw, indeed, that Tony was a man of action. Even though I only knew him for a few years he made a big impression on me, really unforgettable! He will be missed.
Mrs. Slovacek, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. We loved working with you and Tony at Farm City Day. He was always so good with the kids and was always the first to have a positive remark for them. I appreciate all you both have done for 4-H and the youth of Henderson County. Janet, Run-Abouts 4-H Leader
BJ,our deepest condolences to your family. It has been a great honor to know such a man as Tony. His legacy lives on in your wonderful family. We will never forget him.
BJ:
We were so sorry to hear of Tpny’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Lewis
BJ and family
My condolences go out to you.
I am sorry that I could not be there yesterday, but I no longer drive – and no one could pick me up.
I have sent you a condolence card, and you know that God is with you and your family to give you comfort. God Bless you.
BJ and family
What a wonderful man and citizen your Anthony must have been just from reading about him. Sending my thoughts and prayers to you all in this sad time.
C.C. Albright
Lifting your family up in prayer
B.J., I just heard from C.C. about Anthony. I am so sorry. I read his obituary, and he sounds like a wonderful man. Anthony and your family will be in my prayers, and I will add his name to our All Souls’ day Mass intentions at St. Mary’s in Oak Ridge. God Bless, Mary Chris
BJ, Just got the email from CC this morning. So sorry to hear about Tony. Looks like he was quite a guy and I’m sure God welcomed him in with a hearty ‘well done soldier’. God Bless you and your family in this hard time and may he always hold all of you in the palm of His hand.
Hi B.J. Just a brief note to express my sympathy to you and your family. May God bless and comfort you in this time of sorrow. Lovingly, Pat
I would like to give my condolences to Jennifer Lintz and the rest of her family. When you think of your lost remember there is another Angel in Heaven and his name is Anthony.
B.J., I am so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. I’m glad I got to meet him at our reunion. He seemed like a quality person, the kind you deserved. Our prayers are with you.
Harold & Kathy
BJ,
You and your family are in our hearts and prayers as you go through this next phase of life.
We are sending you and family all a great big hug. Love, Judy
To the family and friends of Tony and especially B.J.,
We are praying for God to give you the strength to endure your loss and the courage to face your tomorrows and the comfort of His unfailing love.
In Christ Jesus,
Davis and Carol
To the Slovacek Family:
When your work is done,
Your course on earth is run,
May it be said,’Well Done’,
Be thou at Peace.
Airborne and God Speed Tony.
Jim McHone
BJ, We are very sorry for your loss. As a member of Tonys H.S. graduation class I can only say I am glad we had a chanch to talk at our 56th class reunion back in September. God bless you all.
Dear BJ,
I’m so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing. I just heard about it this week from Sharon. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your children and families. Please let me know if Jeff or I can be of help to you. We’re not far away.
Barbara
He was an instructor in Military Science at Cameron University in Lawton Oklahoma. He was also faculty adviser to the Cameron Rangers. I was acquainted with him around 1968 – 1969. He was well respected by all the young men in ROTC.
He was an instructor in Military Science at Cameron University in Lawton Oklahoma. He was also faculty adviser to the Cameron Rangers. I was acquainted with him around 1968 – 1969. He was well respected by all the young men in ROTC.
I served with Tony in 1971 in Vietnam. He was the best officer in the battalion. I’m really sorry to find that he has passed away. My belated condolences.