Paul J. Skarda (1917-2012)

KELLNER, KUHLMAN, KVIDERA, SKARDA, URICH

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 8/12/2024 at 14:31:44

Paul J. Skarda, age 95, of Ames, passed away November 1, 2012. Visitation will be 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, November 4, 2012, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, with a scripture service at 5 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 5, 2012, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames with Father Jim Secora presiding. Burial will be following the service in Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Paul was born in Bolivar, Missouri, January 2, 1917, to Charles and Helen (Kellner) Skarda. He married Mildred (Kvidera) in 1941. She preceded him in death in 1961. He married Pauline (Urich) Kuhlman in 1965. Paul graduated from high school in Diagonal, Iowa and attended Creston Jr. College and Northern Iowa Teachers College which is now more commonly known as UNI each for two years. He joined the U.S. Air Force on July 1, 1943, and was stationed in Kelley Air Field in San Antonio, Texas. He was honorably discharged March of 1946 as a Captain. His lifetime career was in education, being superintendent at Frederika, Elma, Corwith-Wesley, Britt, the State Department of Education moving to Ames as assistant superintendent before retiring in 1983. His retirement was spent serving on the Board of Heartland Senior Services and lobbying for AARP. He was the recipient of an "Outstanding and Dedicated Leadership Award" from AARP and an "Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame Award" for Story County. He was a member of American Legion Post #37 and The Knights of Columbus 4th degree in the Monsignor Supple Assembly.

The couple enjoyed the weeks at Anchor Inn in Spring Lake, Minnesota, where they enjoyed fishing, time on the lake and entertaining family and friends. He was a Hawkeye fan and had season football tickets for many years. He and Pauline lived a very active lifestyle with trips to family gatherings and their trips to Texas in the winter months.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Mildred; and son, James; and granddaughter, Anna.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline of Ames; daughter-in-law, Jennifer of Iowa City; daughter, Shirley (Michael), of Burnsville, Minnesota; and step-son, Paul Kuhlman (Kathryn) of Keota; two grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Cecilia Catholic Church or Heartland Senior Services.
Online condolences may be sent to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.

Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Saturday, November 3, 2012, page 5B