Geraldine Mae Skaro

Geraldine Mae (Tappe) Skaro of Sebeka MN died at the age of 89 years on Monday, June 19th, 2017 at Inga’s Place near Wadena, MN. Geraldine was the fourth child born to Otto and Anna (Johnson) Tappe on March 19th, 1928 in Rockwood Township, Wadena County, MN. She attended Country School District 18 in Rockwood Township through 8th grade. She worked for room and board at a home in Sebeka and graduated from Sebeka High School in 1946. After graduation, she babysat for Daniel and Donald Platt, twin sons of Aaron and Edna Platt. She met Nellie Skaro who introduced her to William Skaro (Nellie’s brother.) They were married June 9th, 1948 at The First Congregational Church in Wadena with Pastor Theodore Meckel officiating. Their reception was at her parents’ home near Vining. William built them a small house (called the Doll House) on the Skaro farm where he worked. The house grew as the family increased. To this union, five children were born, Margaret, Allen, Ray, Steven, and Bernice. In 1961, the Skaro farm was sold. They bought two acres beside Highway 227 East of Sebeka. They moved “the Doll House” to that location. This house is the only house she lived in her entire married life. She always had a big garden. She canned produce, crocheted, knitted, tatted, quilted and embroidered. She worked for Frank and Bernice Cardini, Myrna and Greg Kempf, as well as cleaned and painted many homes in Sebeka, Menahga, and Wadena. She enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling, camping, playing cards, and reading (she had about 3,000 paperback books.) She helped build onto the house and build other buildings. She retired when she was 71 years old. Last September she moved to “Inga’s Place” near Wadena. Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Anna, her husband William, brothers; Aaron, Edgar and his wife Mary, and William, her sister Wilma and her husband Harold Bauer, son-in-law Jerome Ament, daughter-in-law Laurie Skaro, grandson Donald Skaro, sisters-in-law; Doris and husband Harold Broker, Birdie and her husband Ralph Heern, Shirley Skaro and brothers-in-law; Martin Heern, and Donald Westby. She is survived by sons; Allen (Bernice), Ray (Gail) of Menahga, Steven of Sebeka, daughters; Margaret Ament of Wadena, and Bernice Pickar (Thomas) of Verndale, grandchildren; Brian (Kelly) Ament, Michele (Vaughn) Smith, Dick (Stephaine) Ament, Aaron (Becky) Skaro, Katie (Shawn) Royster, Ted (Jennefer) Skaro, Scott (Anna) Skaro, Carl Skaro, Philip (Karen Harvala) Skaro, Jeremy Burgau, Melissa (Chad) Wattenhofer, Melinda (Clint) Kyllonen, Stevie (Tammy) Skaro, David (Jen) Skaro, Stephanie (Randy) Vandermay, Adam Pickar, 40 great-grandchildren, 15 great great-grandchildren, sister-in-law’s; Nellie Heern, Pearl Westby, Donna Damlo, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 5-8 PM on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Wevley Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the Church. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, June 23rd, 2017 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN with Rachel Stout officiating. Marge Kinnunen will serve as organist. Congregational hymns will be “The old Rugged Cross,” “Amazing Grace,” and “In the Garden.” Honorary Pallbearers will be her granddaughters; Michele Smith, Katie Royster, Stephanie Vandermay, Mindy Kyllonen, and Missy Wattenhofer. Active Casketbearers will be her grandsons; Brian Ament, Dick Ament, Aaron Skaro, Ted Skaro, Scott Skaro, Carl Skaro, Philip Skaro, Stevie Skaro, David Skaro, Adam Pickar, and Jeremy Burgau. Interment will be at Green Hill Cemetery.