Sylvester Sluka

It is with sadness that the Sluka family announces the death of Sylvester D. “Tiny” Sluka: husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and friend.

Tiny was born on 13 November, 1935 in Ft Atkinson, lowa and died on 25 September, 2024 in San Diego, Ca. His parents were Arnold A. Sluka and Euphemia Meyer Sluka. He loved growing up in lowa where he excelled at Boy Scouting (Eagle Scout) and graduated from the University of lowa in 1957 with a BA degree in Political Science and a Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

In 1959 he married Roseanne Neal in lowa City, lowa and they welcomed their first son, Jeffrey Craig Sluka on 31 May, 1960.

In 1961 during the Berlin Crisis Tiny was called to active duty with an assignment at Ft Lewis, Washington. He served in the Army for 28 years, mostly in Special Operations Units including Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces.

During those 28 years they added two more sons to the family: Christopher Jon Sluka and Denis Sylvester Sluka.

His many assignments took him from the jungles of Vietnam to the snow topped Alps of Bavaria, Germany.

Tiny served three combat tours in Vietnam, two tours with Special Forces and one tour with the Rangers. His Boy Scout training was beneficial to him throughout his military exploits and his civilian career including over 6 years as a Scout Master and over 30 years as a Real Estate Broker.

He received a variety of military awards both foreign and domestic including The Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist, three Bronze Star Service Stars, three Air Medals, Ranger tab, The Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Service Star, Vietnam Service Medal and Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster Medal.

Tiny retired from Special Forces in 1985 as a Lieutenant Colonel and he and Roseanne moved to San Diego. He joined the Tierrasanta Real Estate firm that was soon acquired by Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate.

Tiny is survived by his wife, Roseanne, his two sons, Christopher and Denis and one granddaughter, Amelina France Sluka. He also leaves many nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Sherald L. Sluka and his son, Jeffrey C. Sluka.

Private services will be held at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, Ca