- Donald Lee (Don) Skyllingstad (1948 - 2011)
(Ref photo of Don attached to this website)
Visit Guest Book
Donald (Don) Lee Skyllingstad passed away on July 5, 2011, at the ageof 63, while on vacation at Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, where he wasvisiting his childhood friend Wayne Hollingshead and his wife Kathy.
Don was born on April 27, 1948, in Ventura, and spent his life there.Don graduated from Ventura High School in 1966. He had a very strongwork ethic which he got from his parents, Lee and Grace Skyllingstad.Rain or shine, sick or well, he put on his boots every day and got outthere. He worked in construction for many years and spent the last 20years of his career with the Southern California Gas Company.
In the early years Don was very involved in his local sports car club;putting on rallies with his clubs and annual camping trips. He lovedthe beach, enjoyed surfing , water skiing, and taking his canoe out onthe ocean, lakes and rivers. His favorite place to be on the water wasLake Pend Oreille, Idaho, where he has been going since he was a childwith his parents and sister, then later his wife and children andgrandchildren. Don was very active in coaching his children in sports.He loved participating so much that he became a certified umpire sothat he could stay involved long after his children stopped playing.It was an activity that he enjoyed very much. We always knew that whenhe had his umpire bag with him when he left for work in the morning,that he would come home with stories of a good game. In his lateryears, Don became quite the baker. His famous pies and pumpkin bread,and pecan brittle were enjoyed by many. His lemon meringue pie tookthe first place ribbon at the Ventura County Fair in 1999 afterplacing second the year before. He also became an avid fan of USCfootball and could be found most days of the week sporting hiscardinal and gold with either a hat, t-shirt, or sweatshirt.
Don had wonderful sense of humor. He loved to make people laugh withhis jokes and stories. The tables could be easily turned to get him tolaugh, uncontrollably, with a laugh that could not be ignored normistaken for anyone else's, "hee hee hee hee, snort snort snort, heehee hee," deep breath, and repeat. . . Don could be found everymorning around 7:30 a.m. with his "Board of Directors," a group ofneighbors and friends, at Django's Coffee Shop catching up on thelocal news and happenings of the neighborhood. Most of all, Don, was aloving husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, great-grandfather,and friend. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
Donald Lee Skyllingstad is survived by his wife of 35 years, CherylSkyllingstad; sister, Carol Burgoa and brother-in-law Jim Gonsman;daughters, Karen Legat, Danita Crosby, Kelly Skyllingstad, RyannSkyllingstad Stough, and son, Jason Skyllingstad; grandchildren,Steven Leos, Kirsten Akers, Susan Akers, Matthew Legat, Meghan Legat,Dylan Atwood, Mackenzie Atwood, Makayla Atwood; and onegreat-grandson, Aleksei Akers.
The family will be holding a memorial service at Surfer's Point inVentura at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, open to family and friends.
Published in Ventura County Star from July 10 to July 13, 2011
|
1948 - 2011 (63 years)
