Dennis Robert Skalka, LTC USAF (Ret), of Mico was called to the Lord's Service on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, from Blue Skies of Texas in San Antonio.  He was 82.

Born Dec. 16, 1942, in Fairfield, Nebraska, he was the son of James Thomas and Anna Louise Bednar Skalka. He was also welcomed by his 6-year-old brother, Bernard

Until 1949, the family lived in a home built in 1907, which had replaced the original "soddie" home. Their modern new house featured central heat and flush toilets. One mile west of the family home at Deweese, NE, was the country schoolhouse where he and his brother walked each day, St. Martin Catholic Church, and the church cemetery where he resolved he would someday return to reside for eternity.

Upon graduation, he attended college for a year and a half and then transferred to Kansas State University where he studied veterinary medicine. After a year of practicing veterinary medicine in Omaha, NE, he joined the United States Air Force. Military assignments took him to Mt. Home AFB and to Clark AFB in the Philippines. He acquired a Masters degree in public health from the University of Michigan and was posted in various Air Force bases, including Lackland AFB in San Antonio. Dennis served 23 years in the US Air Force, first in veterinary service and later in infection control.

While at Lackland he and Margaret Ann Fair, an Air Force nurse, met and were married months later. They both had a love of country life that led them to purchase land near Medina Lake. He relished life on their ranch, digging up rocks and building stone fences. After a few years of raising cattle, they sold the cattle and started a wildlife management program which still continues.

Later, Maggie accepted a temporary position at the hospital in Hondo and Dennis decided the only way he would get to see her was to attend Mass on Sundays. He felt welcomed at St. John's, taught RCIA classes at the request of Deacon John Schoellman, served on the church council for a number of years, and remained a member until his passing

He was a talented wood-work artist. When St. John's completed its new parish hall, he was asked by some members to create something special for the east wall. Based on artwork he had seen in a church in Italy, and wanting to make a connection between the old church hall and the new one, he created a diorama telling the story of The Last Supper using crosses to depict Jesus and his disciples. (See Photo Album below.)

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents and his brother.

He is survived by his wife of 33 years; sons, Dr. Chris Fair (Raquel) and David Fair; daughters, Laura Newton (Carl) and Andrea Montalvo (Mikeal); 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. and recitation of the Rosary at 9:30 a.m. will be followed by Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 13, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hondo.

Interment with full military honors will be Saturday, Sept. 27, 10:00 a.m., at St. Martin-Loucky Cemetery, Deweese NE.

Memorials may be made to Knights of Columbus, PO Box 1, Lawrence NE 98957 or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 2102 Ave. J, Hondo TX 78861.

GUINN-HORGER FUNERAL HOME