DANIEL CHARLES "Danny" HASKOVEC

Fort Worth, Texas - Daniel Charles “Danny” Haskovec passed away peacefully on April 24^th at the age of 67, following a brief hospitalization.  Born on October 20, 1955 in Sioux City, Iowa, he was the third child of Al Tilton and Freda (Tilton) Haskovec.  When Danny was still a young boy, his family moved to Texas.  Several years following his parents’ divorce, his mother married Charles “Charlie” Haskovec who adopted Danny.  In 1970, the family moved to Austin and Danny began his life-long love of Longhorn football.  He attended William B. Travis High School where a highlight of his school career was serving as the manager of the Rebel football team.  He also served as the sports editor of the school paper for two years.

Danny and his father shared their graduation experiences in Austin in 1973; Danny from Travis High School; and Charlie from the University of Texas with a doctoral degree in psychology.  While those three years in Austin had their challenges, the bond between Danny, his father and his mother became extremely strong.  After their graduations, the family moved to Victoria where Danny attended Victoria Jr. College and later also attended A&I University.   It was while at Victoria Jr. College that he first met, a striking young woman from Victoria named Sharon Woolsey.   While their paths took them in different directions at the time, their destinies would reunite them years later, and she would ultimately become his wife. 

Following completion of his secondary education, Danny took a job as an auto glass installer in Victoria with Glass Specialty, which would eventually become Safelite Auto Glass.  Danny was always well liked by both peers and customers.   His exceptional people and technical skills led him to become a senior specialist with the company.   He so loved working with his peers and directly with the public that he declined offers of management positions so that he could continue to do what he loved best.  Danny was a perfectionist and strove to complete every task to 150% and he held that same standard for others.  His vast knowledge and winning personality made him a natural choice as a mentor to new hires in the company and further spread his positive impact. 

A phone call Danny made on New Year’ Day in 1991, would change the trajectory of his life.  He rekindled a relationship with his former friend, Sharon Woolsey, who at that time was living in Austin.  The flicker that had been in both through the years became a flame; and on August 31^st of that year, the two were married and begin a new life together in Austin.

Danny retired from Safelite after 30-plus years of service and the couple moved to Fort Worth where they could be near his family.  Danny found that his retirement gave him time to focus on his hobbies such as building computers, flying drones, and delving into numerous other high-tech activities.  He loved watching UT sports and collecting a vast array of Longhorn memorabilia.  Danny enjoyed sharing time with Sharon watching old movies and was quick to quote favorite lines from many of them.  He spent hours working in his yard, creating a beautiful park-like environment where he and Sharon enjoyed watching many deer, rabbits, foxes, birds, squirrels, and other wildlife throughout the years.

Danny was known for having a great unique sense of humor and did not mind making himself look silly … his goal was always to make people laugh.  He was also a very caring and compassionate person.  As a 14-year-old, when his father was moving to Austin to complete his doctoral studies at The University of Texas, Danny was insistent that he move with him while his mother remained in Fort Worth to finalize moving arrangements.  He did not want his dad to be lonely.

Danny was extremely generous throughout his life and would often help his neighbors, and even strangers who needed an extra hand.  You might see him changing a stranded motorist’s tire; or assisting a Best-Buy shopper by loading a television into his own truck, delivering it to that stranger’s home and installing it for them; or helping a neighbor defrost a frozen well pump when he saw her frantically attempting to defrost it with a hair dryer.

Danny’s commitment to perfection in his tasks remained strong all his life.  You could see it in his magnificently manicured lawns; in his highly-organized garages and out-buildings; in his impeccably clean vehicles; and in his tinkering and creating things that he often made as gifts for other people to enjoy.  He was truly a man of many talents.

Danny was preceded in death by his mother, Freda and his brother, Mike Tilton.  Danny leaves behind his loving wife of 31 years, Sharon Haskovec; his father Dr. Charlie Haskovec; and his brother Bradley (all of Fort Worth); and his sister, Mary Jane Peacock of Houston; his extended family of in-laws; nieces and nephews and their children; as well as many friends.

Family and friends will gather from 10 to 11 am Saturday, April 29 in the Chapel at Robertson Mueller Harper with a Celebration of Danny’s Life to begin at 11 am.  Following the service, he will be laid to rest in Laurel Land Memorial Park.