Boyd E. "Buddy" Skarin 1925-2012

SKARIN LIND OAKLEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/26/2012 at 13:16:25

Sioux City Journal
July 09, 2012

Boyd E. "Buddy" Skarin, 87, of Sioux City died Thursday, July 5, 2012, in Sioux City following a valiant battle with cancer.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Gene Stockton, pastor of Heartland Community Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites provided by the U.S. Marines. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Buddy was born April 2, 1925, in Kiron, Iowa, to Elmer and Esther (Lind) Skarin. He grew up in the Kiron and Arthur, Iowa, communities. He quit school and became a U.S. Marine at the age of 17 and served with the 1st Marine Division in World War II from June 1942 until December 1945. Buddy saw combat in the Pacific Theater on the South Pacific fortresses of Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Cape Gloucester and Okinawa. He reminded his daughter that in those days, young soldiers heading into battle packed Bibles with their weapons and were baptized, much different than today.

Buddy married the love of his life, Florence V. Oakley, on Nov. 7, 1948, in Elk Point, S.D. She went home before him on March 11, 1994, in Sioux City. Buddy saw dramatic change in the packinghouse industry throughout Siouxland and retired from Armour & Co. after 21 years. Always a man with a mission and a friend to neighbors in need of a helping hand, he stayed busy after retirement doing things he loved.

Buddy was a life member of the D.A.V. He was a master woodworker and loved to restore antique furniture.

He will forever be a lifetime hero and role model to each of his three children, Kay Copas and her husband, Don, Patty Whitlock and her husband, Pat, and Robert Skarin and his wife, Cathy, all of Sioux City. Also left to mourn his passing are a brother, Terry G. Skarin and his wife, Marlene of Burleson, Texas; 14 grandchildren, Shawna Deakins, John Deakins and his wife, Amber, Summer Deakins, Nick Copas and his wife, Angie, Kyndra Callendar and her husband, Josh, Tony Copas, Libby Skarin, Bill Colella, Matt Colella and his wife, Monica, Tiffany Huss and her husband, Chad, Jennie Whitlock, Daniel Whitlock and his wife, Lindsey, David Whitlock and Britta Whitlock; and 13 great-grandchildren left to learn from all the family stories.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 46 years, Florence; five brothers, Eldred, Elmer Jr., Lester, Charles and Ralph; and three sisters, Marian, Margaret and Luella.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren, John Deakins, Daniel Whitlock, David Whitlock, Tony Copas and Elizabeth Skarin, Britta Whitlock, Jay Arneson and Chad Huss.

Memorials may be directed to the family.