Obituary of Spasoje Spike Miskovic

Spasoje "Spike" Miskovic, 74, died June 29th after a brief illness. Spike was born on June 2, 1938 in Zemun, near Belgrade in what is now Serbia. He attended primary and secondary schools in his hometown of Srbobran and Becej, learning auto and aviation mechanics. His skills and education enabled him to run and service film projectors and pilot the airplanes on which he learned his trade. Spike immigrated to the United States and settled in Akron, joining his mother, sister and father, a displaced person who resettled in the U.S. after World War II. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964 and was stationed in Germany during most of the time. He worked as an automobile mechanic at several Akron businesses. While pursuing a college education, he worked as a projectionist at several Akron-area theaters, including the Chapel Hill Cinemas. Mr. Miskovic was a 1974 graduate of Kent State University receiving a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He briefly owned and operated the Wayne County Airport and was the owner of Airspect Air. He built a modern hangar, office and pilot services building at 1600 Triplett Boulevard that served Akron Fulton Airport. Most private pilots and aircraft owners in the Akron area knew Spike. One minute he could be replacing an airplane's engine and the next, donning a coat and tie and piloting a corporate jet. He piloted "banner tows" that flew above crowds at large area events, often displaying letters that his mother, a retired seamstress, had patched. He was the subject of news and features stories spanning four decades in the Akron Beacon Journal, most recently this past winter when, under hospice care, he went out on what would be his last flight. He was a longtime member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees local 48. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Rose and Donald Sekicky of Green; niece, Natalie Sekicky of Cleveland Heights and nephew, David Sekicky of Chicago and one grandniece. The family will receive friends TODAY from 4-8 pm at the Anthony Funeral Home KUCKO-ANTHONY-KERTESZ CHAPEL, 1990 S. Main St. in Akron, where a Parastas will take place at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11:00 am at St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church 2552 Pickle Rd., where Spike will lie in state for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Lakewood Cemetery in Akron. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Archangel Michael Church 2552 Pickle Rd. Akron, OH 44312.