Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, June 12, 2012

Elbert Ray SKARDA was born December 26, 1927 to Joe and Josie PROCHASKA SKARDA on a farm west of Tingley and died June 30, 2012 at Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr. He lived nearly his entire life in Ringgold county.

He graduated from Tingley high school in 1946 and helped his father on the family farm. After his marriage to Peggy MOHR, his high school sweetheart, on February 14, 1950, they established their home north of Tingley. While living there, their first child, Becky, was born. They then farmed south of Creston for eight years and their family grew to include Janet, Ginny and John. In 1959 Elbert and Peggy moved back to the Tingley area and spent many happy years there on the farm.

Elbert loved the land and spent many hours tilling and planting and enjoyed driving the countryside viewing the scenery. He was a true lover of the outdoors and loved fishing, hunting, trapping and bow hunting. He also enjoyed woodworking, listening to polka music and watching all kinds of sports on TV.

For several years Elbert organized a NCAA basketball tournament pool for area fans.

Elbert loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom share his middle name. His family always came first and he provided well for them. Their lives have all been blessed and enriched by the love that he shared with them in so many ways.

In later years they retired from the farm and moved into Tingley. During these years Elbert enjoyed working outdoors, gardening and seeing that his wife's flowers always had a fresh drink of water. For several years Elbert served as Tingley's fire chief and was instrumental in the building of the new Tingley Fire Station.

Elbert always enjoyed the early morning conversations with the coffee group at the Tingley Store, even hosting it in his garage when the store was closed.

Elbert and Peggy, along with friends Dave and Marge PATCH, Marjorie WERNER, Pauline MURPHY and Ermil HAINLINE, formed a band known as The Echoes and enjoyed many, many hours on the road entertaining at area nursing homes and meal sites.

Elbert was a faithful member of the Tingley Presbyterian Church and served in several positions through the years until its closing.

He currently was a member of the Tingley First Christian Church.

Left to cherish all his wonderful memories and follow in his foot-steps are his wife of 62 years, Peggy SKARDA of Tingley, Iowa; daughters, Janet (Tom) HALL of Mission Viejo, California and Ginny (Malcolm) EIGHMY of Mount Ayr, Iowa; son, John SKARDA and fiancé Debbie JONES of Des Moines, Iowa; son-in-law, Cecil DOLECHECK of Mount Ayr, Iowa; grandchildren, Eric (Dawn) DOLECHECK, Josie Rae (Al) JOHNSON, Darin (Darla) DOLECHECK, Heidi Rae (Brian) SANTAGATA, Allison HALL, Shane HALL, Melissa (Eric) FRIEDRICH, Dustin (Rebecca) EIGHMY and Chelsie SKARDA; great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Becca DOLECHECK, Luke, Jacey Rae, Robyn Rae, Amanda Rae and Amy Rae SANTAGATA, Becky Rae and Colby Ray JOHNSON, Tatum and Alba FRIEDRICH and Talon EIGHMY; sisters, Mayme (Don) COHRON of Atlantic, Iowa and Anna LINKEY of Diagonal, Iowa, and a host of other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved daughter, Rebecca Rae DOLECHECK, and brothers, Dick and Harry.

A memorial fund has been established in his name to be decided later.

Services were held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, with Pastor Lila GREENE and Rev. Alan RUSK officiating. Musicians were Ginny EIGHMY, Doug GREENE and Darla DOLECHECK. Casket bearers included Gary PETERSOHN, Jeff ENGLAND, Steve WERNER, John A. OVERHOLTZER, John ALLEN and Alan IBBOTSON. Honorary pallbearers were Eric DOLECHECK, Josie Rae JOHNSON, Darin DOLECHECK, Heidi Rae SANTAGATA, Allison HALL, Shane HALL, Melissa FRIEDRICH, Dustin EIGHMY and Chelsie SKARDA.

Burial was in the Tingley Cemetery in Tingley.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2012

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