Robert Eugene Sepanski

Robert “Bob” Eugene Sepanski peacefully passed on to eternal life the evening of April 8, 2026, at this home in Muenster, TX, with family members gathered around him, at the age of 88. Born on April 19, 1937, in Kenosha, WI to Constantine “Gus” and Hedwig “Hattie” (Pawlowski) Sepanski, Bob lived a life committed to service and excellence. With his sharp mind and generous heart, he left an indelible impact through both his professional work in the aerospace industry and volunteer work in his community. As a child, Bob was an eager learner and voracious reader, even reading his family’s full encyclopedia set twice in a row (his favorite letters were “A” because of airplane and “W” because of warfare). The oldest son in a family of eight children, Bob was expected to work numerous jobs to help support his family from a young age, yet he still found the motivation to excel in his studies. He was awarded a scholarship to St. Catherine’s High School in Racine, WI and went on to attend Marquette University, where he majored in Human Factors Engineering, with a minor in Psychology. Bob was offered a lucrative job in the aviation industry following a research project he did during his senior year; however, he turned it down to join the Air Force, something he had dreamed of since watching WWII reels as a young boy. He served in the Air Force for seven years as a navigator in the cockpit of large transport aircraft, rising to the rank of captain. During his two years in Vietnam, he was part of a crew tasked with delivering supplies, ammunition, and equipment to troops on the ground, often surrounded by hostile forces. He received numerous medals for his service, including the Purple Heart. Upon leaving the Air Force, Bob was employed by The Boeing Company in Seattle and shortly after recruited by Bell & Howell in Texas. His work focused on much-needed changes in aviation training. Instead of free-form lectures by individual instructors that could vary in content and efficacy, Bob devised a standardized, objectives-based training program that included illustrated manuals, individual learning carrels, and cockpit procedure trainers and simulators for hands-on learning. He pioneered his new system with the American Airlines Training Center in Fort Worth. His success with American Airlines paved the way for him to form his own company, Communications Learning Systems, Inc. (CLS). Major airlines and aerospace manufacturers hired CLS to modernize their programs. Most memorably, this resulted in Bob relocating his family for two years to France to steer the development of the Airbus program and advise on the Concorde. CLS would eventually expand to serve other industries as well, most notably petroleum, optical, and hospitality. Bob sold CLS to FlightSafety International, a blue-chip company on the New York Stock Exchange, later acquired by Berkshire Hathaway. Other notable professional work included consulting with Lockheed Martin in the review of the Challenger space shuttle disaster, and working for Reflectone Inc., a Florida-based manufacturer of flight simulators and training devices, later acquired by British Aerospace Holdings Inc. Bob is the father of seven children whom he loved dearly. He had three daughters with his wife Linda (Rohmer): Sara, Kathryn “Kate,” and Lauren; and four sons with his first wife, Jean (Mitchell): Robert, John, Thomas, and Michael. Bob was an affectionate father who brought his children into his world and made them feel important. He would bring them to work with him and entrusted them with family responsibilities. He supported them in their athletic and academic endeavors, encouraging them to “study hard, play hard, be good to your teachers.” His “fireball” road trips were the stuff of family legend, and he is fondly remembered for his gift of story-telling and a profuse collection of one-liners, ready to deploy in any situation. Wherever he lived, Bob found ways to contribute to his community. His volunteer service most often revolved around his local parish. As a boy, he had served many hours as an acolyte at Latin Masses; as an adult he served as lector and Eucharistic minister. He enrolled his children in Catholic schools, served on parish councils, and volunteered for school organizations over the years. For the last three decades of his life, Bob lived in Muenster with Linda and their daughters. The longest he had ever lived in one place, he put down roots and found ways to contribute where he could be of service. This ranged from one-off projects like painting the interiors of Sacred Heart Grade School and refinishing desks, to recurring volunteer roles that spanned many years. For instance, he co-produced (with Linda) the school’s quarterly newsletter, THE ALUMNI, and served as the unofficial photographer for Sacred Heart school and church events, taking thousands of photographs and meticulously editing and printing copies to give to students and the local newspaper. He also put his masterful culinary skills to work by leading the cooking for the yearly Sacred Heart Saff Appreciation Dinner and Sacred Heart High School Sports Banquet, and donated group dinners to the Sacred Heart Parish live auction. As word of his talents spread, he was asked to assist at St. Richard’s Nursing Home, where he greatly improved the diet and quality of life of its residents. From there, he was called upon for help in providing end-of-life care for several gentlemen in the community over the years, giving them the best possible final weeks or months of their lives. In his marriage to Linda, Bob found an equal partner in excellence and served as a true team player. No task was too small or beneath him, and he became an integral and beloved part of the Rohmer family. As a partner he was also intentional about keeping the spark alive during the routines of everyday life. As Bob aged, he instituted a daily happy hour at 4:00 p.m., where they both stopped whatever they were doing to spend an hour enjoying each other’s company before beginning dinner preparations. Though he would often joke that he was just “the husband of Linda,” he left an imprint on the community and will be sorely missed by those who knew him. While Bob did not wear his devout and serious faith on his sleeve, his convictions made him a rock for so many throughout his life. He would often remind his family that “everything he did was a prayer.” Bob is survived by his wife, Linda, and their daughters Sara Sepanski of Fort Worth, and Lauren Ortega (Lorenzo) of Paris, France; his sons from his first marriage, Robert J. Sepanski (Laurie) of Grapevine, John M. Sepanski (Laurie) of Williamsburg, VA, Thomas J. Sepanski (Janet) of Fort Worth, and Michael P. Sepanski of Richmond, VA; sisters Marilyn Skipper and Phyllis Martino (Dan) of Kenosha, WI; granddaughters Katherine Beck (Ryan) of Christiansburg of VA, Rachel Andrews (Mote) of Atlanta, GA, Megan Fuller (Cole) of Brookhaven, GA, Anna Sepanski and Lily Sepanski of New York, NY, Rubye Sepanski of Houston, Julie Sepanski of North Richland Hills, and Mary Sepanski of Richmond, VA; grandsons John A. Sepanski (Elizabeth) of Hampton, VA, Robert C. Sepanski (Ashley), of Haslet, Kevin Sepanski of Fort Worth, and Thomas M. Sepanski of College Station; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his father Gus Sepanski; mother Hattie Sepanski; daughter Kate Voth; sisters Rosemary Herrman, Patricia Bain, and Joyce Rizk; brothers Alan Sepanski and Richard Sepanski; niece and goddaughter Dana Martino Spencer; and nephew David Martino. Memorial donations may be made to the Sacred Heart Trust Fund, the Muenster Volunteer Fire Department, and Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke & Fannin Counties. Rosary and Vigil will be held at 6:00 PM, Thursday, April 16, 2026, in the Sacred Heart Community Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Rev. Austin Hoodenpyle, pastor, as celebrant and Deacon Marty Robertson assisting. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Robert Eugene Sepanski

April 19, 1937 - April 8, 2026