Spring Hill, Fla. – John Daniel Skillen, 85, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Indiana and Iowa, passed away at 1:10 p.m. April 4, 2013, in Oak Hill Hospital, Brooksville, Fla. He was born July 6, 1927, in Winamac, to the late Charles and Violet Skillen. On July 17, 1954, in Jasper, he married Patricia, who survives in Springhill, Fla. After their marriage in 1954, he worked for Drydon Rubber and then for Sheller-Globe Corporation for 29 years. He held the general plant manager position in Montpelier for more than 20 years and retired from Sheller-Globe in 1989 as general manager of Sheller-Globe and a member of the Bank Board in Keokuk, Iowa. He also was a co-owner of Heartland Packaging Company. He was an avid fisherman since his boyhood in Winamac and was nicknamed “Kingfish” for his superior angler skills as he fished the Tippecanoe River. He hunted regularly, was a competitive golfer, and strategic bridge player. After his retirement he resided in Leesburg on Tippecanoe Lake where he took up woodworking, making oak and cherry wood furniture for his family. In 2000, he and his wife, Patricia, moved to Timber Pines golfing community in Springhill, Fla., where he lived comfortably until the time of his death. He was a loyal, devoted, and beloved husband and father. He graduated from Winamac High School where he lettered every year in basketball. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his service in the Navy he attended and graduated from Purdue University. He then went to work at the General Electric Corporation in Indianapolis where he met his wife Patricia. Also surviving are two sons, Jeffrey Charles Skillen and Steven Victor Skillen, Independence, Minn.; a daughter, Ann Claire (and spouse Tom) Lockwich, Clearwater, Fla.; a granddaughter, Natalie Skillen; a grandson, Blake Skillen; a sister, Joan Henry, Winamac; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert “Bob” Skillen. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Frain Mortuary. Burial will be in Winamac Cemetery, with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars conducting military graveside services. Frain Mortuary, Winamac, is in charge of arrangements. ***** Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project. Condolences may be sent via www.frainmortuary.com
