Delmar "Skip" Skerston

Delmar “Skip” “Bud” Skerston, 90, of Tonica, IL passed away peacefully at his farm September 21, 2016 surrounded by friends and family.  He kept his cowboy wit, delightfully uncouth manner, and zest for life until the end.  He was looking forward to playing euchre to redeem himself from being Schneidered the week before and fishing at the lake.  Born before there was electricity and running water, he was tickled at the opportunity to speak with people around the world on cell phones. He had a lifelong love of horses and was an avid reader of Louis L’Amour. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Senica’s Deer Park Country Club at 100 Deer Park Lane Oglesby, IL  61348 on Sunday September 25th from 10am-1pm followed by a meal. The Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica is assisting the family with arrangements.

He was born on August 12, 1926 to Joe & Mabel (Williams) Skerston in Oglesby, Illinois.  Great stories were told about growing up with the old Lithuanians in “duck sh*t alley” and tales of surviving the Depression.  Like many pre-teens of the Illinois Valley he worked for numerous farmers, Supreme Dairy, and Seneca Shipyard.  He worked for 33 years at Marquette Cement and often told people “I really got a bang out of my job” speaking of being the head blaster. 

A member of the Greatest Generation he served on the USS Massachusetts in World War II travelling to San Francisco, Alaska, Japan, and the Philippines at the age of 16.  He was proud to have fought in 38 major battles and on a ship that never lost a crew member. He was lucky to be able to visit his ship in 2003 and again for his 70th ship reunion in Fall River, Massachusetts in 2015. 

He had the honor of being the eldest of 400+ persons at his family reunions in 2015 and was a cornerstone of a large clan. 

He is survived by his wife Carleen (Bray) (Golick) Skerston of Tonica, his ex-wife Mary (Read) Weistart of Oglesby, son Bruce (Linda) Skerston of Oglesby, Lila (Chuck) Shevokas of Oglesby, Dave (Sarah) Golick of Peru, Rich (Lisa) Golick of Seabrook, Texas, Dan (Marietta) Skerston of Wooster, Ohio, Scott (Jennifer Bunker) Skerston of Peru, and Sarah (Mark) Walczynski of Tonica.   He has 15 grandchildren Beau Skerston of Peru, Amanda Skerston of Peru, Ramona (Mark) Lindquist of Chicago, Joyce (James) O’Hare of LaSalle, Eric (Jill) Shevokas of Oglesby, Jason (Jennifer) Shevokas of Granbury, Texas, Nicole Shevokas of Brea, California, John Golick of Oglesby, Joe Golick of Oglesby, Angela Skerston of Lawrence, Kansas, Sabrina Skerston of Moore, Oklahoma, Amber Dzierzynski of Oglesby, Lydia Skerston of Peru, Mitch (Nicole) Walczynski of Valparaiso, Indiana, and Wes Walczynski of St. Petersburg, Florida. 

He was preceded in death by his sister Audrey Mozina of Peru and Jim Skerston of Springfield and lost 3 children and 2 grandchildren. He is blessed to have his sisters Clare Cosgrove of Merryville, Indiana, Betty Kozel of Oglesby, and Cathy Castrone of Birmingham, Alabama and his brothers Ron Skerston of Highmore, South Dakota and Jack Skerston of Deer River, Minnesota. 

Donations can be directed to the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department.

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