Lester W. SKIBBE

17 APR 1934 - 18 JAN 2017

• BIRTH: 17 APR 1934, Bainbridge Twp., Berrien County, MI
• DEATH: 18 JAN 2017, Dowagiac, Cass, Michigan

• MARRIAGE: 29 OCT 1960, Trinity Lutheran Church, Berrien Springs, Michigan

INDEX

[N16104] Lester W. Skibbe
Apr. 17, 1934 - Jan. 18, 2017
DOWAGIAC - Lester W. Skibbe, age 82, of Dowagiac, died Wednesday, January 18, 2017 surrounded by his family in Borgess Memorial Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born April 17, 1934 in Bainbridge Township of Berrien County, Michigan, the second of six children of Carl and Emma (Behnke) Skibbe. He met the love of his life at the Polish Hall in Dowagiac when they both attended a dance. He married Diane Marie Rudell October 29, 1960 in Trinity Lutheran Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Lester served honorably in the U.S. Army. He was an avid polka dancer, known to be light on his feet. Like his father before him, he enjoyed rooting for the Detroit Tigers, win or lose. Lester was a lifelong farmer with all of the grit, determination and work ethic to prove it. He was always willing to help, volunteering his time at the Cass County Fair and Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Cassopolis. Some of his favorite things were jigsaw puzzles, pork fritters, flannel shirts, Mollie B's Polka Party and draft horses. Lester was a loving and kindhearted man, devoted to his family, friends, and neighbors. He was also an inspiration to many with his remarkable recovery following a near fatal accident in 2010. Lester will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his wife of over fifty six years, Diane (Rudell) Skibbe of Dowagiac, Michigan; one son, David Skibbe of Warren, Michigan; one daughter, Susan (Dave) Baldwin of Decatur, Michigan; four grandchildren, Matthew Worley, Madison Worley, Karson Kendall-Baldwin, Elias Baldwin; four sisters, Margaret Rogel of Kewadin, Michigan, Wanda Ray of Sturgis, Michigan, Ruth (Phil) Coulson of Lawton, Michigan, Janet Hamay of Paw Paw, Michigan; one brother, Frank (Fran) Skibbe of Dowagiac, Michigan; and a host of nieces and nephews.Family and friends will gather Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis. Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home with the Reverend Paul Doellinger officiating. The family appreciates contributions being made in Lester's memory to either the Cass County Fair Association, Post Office Box 56, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031, or, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Post Office Box 382, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031. Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis, Michigan. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com. Published in South Bend Tribune on Jan. 20, 2017