Johnny Joseph "John" Vanecek

Johnny (John) Joseph Vanecek, passed away Monday, January 20, 2025, five days past his 83rd birthday after a long hospitalization in Conroe, Texas. John was the youngest of six children born January 15, 1942, to Mary E. (Drozd) and George J. Vanecek in Mathis, Texas. He leaves behind his only child, Melanie (Vanecek) Beaman and husband Richard, grandson Samuel Beaman, his sister Sybil Mokry, nieces, nephews, and friends both old and new. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Melinda (Rhodes) Vanecek, whom he doted on abidingly and cared for her as her health deteriorated. John grew up on his family's cotton farm in Granger, Texas. He joined the Air Force soon after high school graduation, driving his trusty 1959 VW Bug all the way to Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he was trained in electronics and as a radar tech, worked in a cranberry bog to earn extra money during harvest season, spent time with his buddies at the beach during his time off, and ran competitive track. Four years later, he drove his VW back to Austin, Texas where he met Melinda. They were united in marriage in 1965. In 1966, he enrolled at the University of Texas and earned a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in 1970, and a Master of Fine Arts in 1972. He shared a class with fellow student Farah Fawcett and took a photography class taught by Russell Lee. He was an accomplished artist and his colored pencil drawings were included in many local exhibitions including the Young Texas Artists Series in 1978. After college, John worked for Texas Parks & Wildlife in the arts department where he honed his woodworking skills and created dioramas and other art installations for museums all around Texas. He and a colleague built the massive, wooden altar in the Mission Espirito Santo chapel at the Goliad State Park & Historical site. John went on to have a long career designing and building trade show exhibits for various companies in the Houston area. In 1998, he and Melinda moved to Huntsville, Texas, to be closer to her aging parents. He finished his career with the state at the TDCJ as a maintenance supervisor and retired at the age of 72. John was proud of his Czech heritage and made regular pilgrimages to his favorite kolach bakeries around central Texas. He was a hardworking man who would often say, "If you aren't going to take the time to do something right, then don't do it at all." He was an avid vegetable gardener and nature lover with many hobbies. He had planned to plant wildflower meadows all over his five-acre property to help feed pollinating birds and butterflies. He loved to read, with a fondness for sci-fi, biographies, and history. He was a mechanic and could build or fix just about anything. He knew so much about so many things and would readily lend a hand or advice to anyone. He loved beauty and had a generous heart, often leaving big tips at his regular eateries. He had recently purchased a 1959 VW Bug, just like his first car, that he was lovingly restoring. He was one of the good old guys – smart, funny, reliable, a man of his word, the best dad in the whole world. He was truly loved by many and will be deeply missed.