Roman “Skip” Lee Skowronski, age 87 of Loveland, OH passed away on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
Born in Kenosha, WI on November 11, 1935, he was the second-born son of three to Leo and Mabel Skowronski. Skip attended Roosevelt Grade School, Lincoln Junior High School and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School, where he met his wife-to-be, Marilyn Madison. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church. They have two daughters, Sandra (Skowronski) Lewinski and Ruth (Skowronski) Seiple and were married for 67 years.
Skip began his working career at P&G Hardware in Kenosha and then John Pritzlaff Hardware in Milwaukee, where he impressed tool vendors with his knowledge and work ethic. Additional roles were with Montgomery Ward in plumbing sales and Kwik Kafe Co. as the service manager for their vending machine business. He left Kenosha for a career with Rockwell International’s Power Tools Division. He started as the Kansas City Branch Service manager and then was promote to a larger role as the U.S. Central Service Manager. His work in the tool business brought him and the family to many cities, including Kansas City, Chicago, Syracuse, Toronto, Cincinnati and Cleveland. In 1973, Skip left Rockwell to join the American Laundry Machinery Division of McGraw Edison in Cincinnati, Ohio as Director of Parts and Service. In 1978 when McGraw sold the division, Skip and the family moved to Cleveland where he finished his career at Emerson Electric’s Ridge Tool Division in Elyria, Ohio as a Divisional Director in charge of Service and Training of the Rigid Product line and the Home Depot network throughout the US and Canada. In 2000, Skip and Marilyn returned to Cincinnati and built their dream house on lovely wooded acreage in Loveland, Ohio where they enjoyed their pool, campfire cookouts, and feeding the wildlife for almost 25 years.
Skip was an extremely talented man, mastering plumbing, electrical and structural repairs and improvements to his home as well as the homes of his daughters. From upholstery sewing to painting and refinishing furniture, to root beer and winemaking, to cooking for family and guests, there were few things that Skip couldn’t engineer, repair and master. All of these passions and skills took a backseat to his talent and passion for woodworking. He was truly a master woodworker, and his workshop was as impressive as any professional. From miniature dollhouses to one his daughters and granddaughters and great-granddaughters could stand up in, he did it all – wood shelves and custom cabinets, headboards and tables, armoires, desks and rockers all bore the “Handcrafted by the Woodchuck” emblem stamp.
Skip served in the military for 8 years in the U.S. Navy Seabee Reserves, training in Providence, RI, Norfolk, VA and Port Hueneme, CA, finishing at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago, IL. He was active in the Kenosha Uptown Businessmen’s Association, National Association of Service Managers, Hydraulics Service Centers and Appliance Parts Distributor’s Associations. He served as Loveland High School’s Band Booster President, City Council committees and Church Property Committees. He and Marilyn were charter members of Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in Kenosha.
Skip leaves a legacy of creativity and generosity that both promises to inspire and frustrate his daughters and sons-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Sandra (David) Lewinski and Ruth (Robert) Seiple; his grandchildren, Katie (Jack) Walsh, Tom (Abby) Seiple, Jenny (Bruce) Merrill and Annie (Andrew) Gangidine; two great-granddaughters; and sister-in-law Karen Skowronski. Nephews include Randy, Brian, Chris, Andrew, Tim, as well as grandnieces and grandnephews. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Frank Skowronski and Leon “Wick” Skowronski; nephew, Stephen; niece, Pamela; and sister-in-law, Ethel Skowronski.
Memorial services honoring Roman’s life will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the Piasecki Funeral Home (3720 39th Ave., Kenosha). Inurnment with full military honors will follow in Green Ridge Cemetery. A gathering of relatives and friends will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 10:00AM until the time of the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to: Alzheimer’s Association Skowronski Team or Circle Tail Skilled Service Dog Training.