Victor Frank Slanina

Victor Frank Slanina, Jr., 82, of Brazoria TX passed away on Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Victor was born on July 23, 1941, and raised on a small farm in Wallis, Texas where he enjoyed speaking Czech, which was his first language. He spent much of his life less than a mile from the San Bernard River, which he loved to be on, from fishing and swimming in the Blue Hole near Wallis as a kid to eventually building his home on the San Bernard River in 2002 in Brazoria, Texas where he was a resident for 46 years.

He attended Wallis High School and graduated from the University of Houston – Downtown with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and as a member of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society.

Victor wore many hats throughout his adult life. He was a postal carrier in Bay City, a bus driver for Trailways Bus Lines, and a machinist at Dow Chemical. He retired as a senior-level probation officer with Brazoria County. While recovering from an industrial accident, he baked hundreds of kolaches to help tide his family over before beginning his career in criminal justice. He was an avid Do It Yourself-er and with an enthusiasm for firearms, he became a self-taught gunsmith, then certified as a firearms instructor. Always teaching, he also taught Sunday School and volunteered as a math tutor at Wild Peach Elementary School. Later in his career, he taught court-ordered drug and alcohol classes for Brazoria County Adult Probation. He hunted and fished with passion and oystered when he could. But his favorite hat was being Pawpaw to his 12 grandkids and 2 great-grandkids.

Victor was raised Catholic, attending Guardian Angel Catholic Church in Wallis, Texas. He spent his last years as a Protestant and nearly 40 years as a member of First Baptist Church of Brazoria.

Victor was preceded in death by his mother, Marie B Novak Slanina, father, V.F. Slanina, brother, George Slanina, and son, Mark Slanina.

Victor was survived by his wife of 36 years, Vicki Pennock Slanina; brother Norbert Slanina and wife Gloria of Rosenberg; aunts, Grace Novak of Dickinson, Georgia Cooper of Spring Branch, and Maurice Novak of Amarillo; sister, Marie Kucera of Rosenberg; brother, Charlie Slanina and wife Sylvia of Crockett; his sons: John Slanina and wife Keri of Trinity, Andy Slanina and wife Meredith of Canton, Georgia, Matthew Slanina of Bastrop, Brad Slanina and wife Melissa of McKinney; daughters, Jamie Fargason and husband Patrick of The Woodlands, and Kelley Burger and husband Monty of Brazoria; and grandchildren: Ty, Kori, Katie, William, Brady, Cody, Meagan, Dana, Sara, Kate, Josh, and Jessica; great-grandkids: Bradley and Ava; and a loving, extended family.

Services will be held at C.T. Baker & Sons Funeral Home, 634 S. Columbia Dr., West Columbia, Texas 77486. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am and funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.