OBITUARY
James Neal Janek, always known as “Neal”, passed away on December 16, in San Angelo.
Neal was born in Fort Worth, on October 3, 1937, and was adopted as an infant by a very loving farmer and his school teacher wife, William Walter Janek and Eda Sarah Lisso Janek of Wall.
He and his younger brother, Robert William Janek (also adopted) enjoyed running through the cotton and milo fields, playing cowboys and Indians, and ambushing each other and unsuspecting cousins, to the sounds of the windmill and the ‘Poppin’ Johnny’ John Deere tractor.
Neal attended school in Wall, a member of the first graduating class when Wall became a twelve year school in 1956. He loved basketball and became an admired star player. He attended San Angelo College when it was a two year junior college, earning an Applied Arts Diploma in 1959.
Following his classroom education, he joined the Army National Guard along with many friends and acquaintances from Tom Green County, becoming a member of the 49th Armored Division when it was nationalized and activated in 1961, serving at Fort Polk, LA.
Neal went to work for various finance companies and for Mether Oil Machinery, and Dunigan Tool and Supply in Odessa, where he was a bookkeeper. In Odessa, he met and married Shelby Carol Armour in 1964. A son was born to them, Kerry Neal Janek, and daughter, Kristie Dawn Janek. Shelby preceded him in death in 1981.
When Dunigan Tool dissolved, Neal became a driver for several car dealers in Odessa, delivering vehicles throughout the United States including California, Florida, Washington State, Idaho, and Washington, DC. Brother Robert would accompany him occasionally, making for some memorable trips together.
Even though Neal regularly attended and was active in the United Methodist Church, his “real” religion was the Dallas Cowboys football team, and at one point he had the privilege of standing on the star in the middle of the field of the Cowboy’s stadium.
What else characterized Neal was his contagious smile and laughter which endeared him to many. He enjoyed playing Spinner, Black Jack, “42”, and “88” with family and friends.
Neal is survived by his son, Kerry Neal Janek and his grandson, William Lee Janek, both of Midland; his daughter Kristie Dawn Janek Calamusa, and his granddaughters, Shelby Anna Calamusa and Sarah Dawn Calamusa all of Atlanta, GA; his brother and his wife, Robert William and Jena Paulette Bircher Janek of San Angelo, his nephew and his wife, Daryl Jonathan and Mary Jo Turner Janek near Burlington, VT; along with several cousins and their families.
A viewing will be held on December 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in San Angelo. A graveside service will follow on December 23 at 1 p.m. in Odessa, at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.
The family is tremendously grateful to the staff of the memory care unit at Brayden Park Assisted Living and Memory Care who loved and tended Neal so well these last several years.
— From Johnson’s Funeral Home
