Mr. Shirley M. “Sam”
Skillman, 93, of Knoxville, formerly of Galesburg, died at 3:24 p.m. Tuesday,
December 29, 2015 in the Knox County Nursing Home.
He was born July 7, 1922 in
Valley Springs, South Dakota, the son of Merit S. and Inga (Running) Skillman. He married Velma I. Hamilton on September 11,
1942 in Baltimore, Maryland.
He is survived by two daughters,
Marlene “Po” (and Chuck) Andrewjeski of Kewanee, Illinois and Kristina (and
James) Wenstrom of Knoxville; two grandsons, Joshua (and Kari) Wenstrom and
Caleb (and Amy) Wentrom; two great grandsons, Layton and Reece; and several
nieces and nephews. He was preceded in
death by his parents, seven brothers, and two sisters.
Sam was an engineer on the
CB&Q Railroad for 31 years, retiring in 1983. He graduated from Valley Springs High School
in 1940.
Sam served in the United
States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He was in the European Theatre.
Sam was a former member of
Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post 285 and was a founding father of the Little
John Conservation Club. He was a Mason
and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville. In his younger years, Sam enjoyed gardening,
fishing, and hunting.
Visitation will be 1:30 to
2:30 p.m. Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg
Chapel. Funeral service will follow at
2:30 p.m. with Rev. Michel D. Clark officiating. Military honors will be offered by VFW
#2257/Legion #285 Veterans Honor Guard.
Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Sam’s name may be
made to the Knox County Nursing Home or Hospice Compassus. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
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