Gerald James Skedgell

Gerald James Skedgell passed away late Saturday night, January 9, 2016 at the age of 88 years.

Gerald was born on August 8, 1927, the son of George and Angeline (Bleam) Skedgell of Nashville, Michigan.

He grew up working on the family dairy farm. Gerald graduated from Nashville High School in 1945. In his Junior year of High School, Gerald played football with his 2 older brothers. The three Skedgell boys were a force to reckon with on the Nashville Football team. After High School Gerald was hired by Lockshore Dairy and spent 16 years delivering wholesale milk in the Hastings area. In 1972, Gerald was hired as the building supervisor for Hastings Mutual Insurance, retiring in 1992 after 20 years of service. He was also a volunteer at the Hastings Fire Department for 20 years.

Gerald met the love of his life, Joyce at a dance near Clear Lake. They married at the Skedgell farm on October 15, 1949. They were blessed with 66 years of married life. They enjoyed traveling, flying to visit children, camping and fishing, exploring the United States with friends and escaping winter weather in Venice, Florida.

From an early age, Gerald enjoyed the outdoors. His mother was always ready to cook the game he would bring home for the family dinner table. In the early years of their marriage Gerald and Joyce traveled to the U.P. in November with his dad, his older brothers and their wives for a week in the woods hoping to take home venison. Of course there was competition between the brothers for the biggest deer.

After his retirement from Hastings Mutual Insurance, a wood carving class sparked his interest in duck decoys and Gerald went on to master fish and bird carving designs as well.

Gerald is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce (Christiansen) Skedgell; his daughers, Linda (Jim) Titze, and Brenda Lockwood, and his son, Steve (Michelle) Skedgell, 6 grandchildren; Sarah (Nathan) Nelson, Matthew (Cate) Titze, Mark Lockwood, Jeremy Lockwood, Bryan Skedgell, Adam (Kyleigh) Skedgell; 4 great-grandchildren; his sister Dorothy (Fred) Corkins; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Wayne, Donald and George Skedgell.

Family was important to Gerald. He always encouraged and supported his children. He loved watching his grandchildren grow into adults. Gerald was excited about his great-grandchildren and he always kept in touch with his little sister.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm, followed by a Memorial Service at 12:30 pm. Doctor James Spindler will officiate the service. A luncheon will follow the Memorial service at the Barry Community Foundation/Leason Sharpe Hall, 231 S. Broadway, Hastings. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pennock Hospice, 1230 W. State St., Hastings, MI.