John Elias Skaff 1912 - 2000

SKAFF, SALEM, HEDLUND

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/14/2015 at 21:17:03

Sioux City Journal

John Elias Skaff, 87, of Sioux City died Friday, June 30, 2000, at his son’s residence in Lodi, Calif.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel M. Greving officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 9 p.m. and a parish vigil services at 7 p.m. at Larkin Morningside Funeral Home.

Mr. Skaff was born Nov. 12, 1912, in Beresford, S.D., the son of Michael and Lulu (Salem) Skaff. He was raised in Beresford. He worked on the family farm and in a different family retail stores. He also helped build Highway 46 through Beresford in the late 1930’s. He moved to Omaha to drive a truck for Union Transfer from 1939 to 1942.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps, 1st Marine Airwing, Marine 2nd Division from 1942 to 1946, stationed in the South Pacific. He was a member of one of the first units to land at Guadalcanal. Following his discharge, he moved to Sioux City.

He married Jean C. Hedlund on April 29, 1948, in Sioux City. He was employed as a truck driver from 1947 to 1978, with Union Freightway Co. and then with Pacific Intermountain Express. He retired in 1978. His wife died October 24, 1999, in Sioux City.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Retired Teamsters, Third Degree Knights of Columbus Council 5660 and Society of Widowers in Lodi, California.

Survivors include two sons, John E. Jr. and his wife, Patricia of Lodi and Mark P. of Sioux City; two daughters, Mary C. Skaff and Patricia J. Skaff, both of Sioux City; seven grandchildren, Theodore W., Justin J. and John E. Skaff III, Brysen J., Sarah J., Timothy A. and Cole W. Sneller; and brother and his wife, Vincent and Myrtle of Sioux Falls, S.D.