Gerald Dunlap Skoning

1942 - 2023

Gerald Dunlap Skoning
Born: August 29, 1942
Died: July 8, 2023
Nationally recognized expert in employment law, civic leader, and Vietnam-era Navy veteran, Mr. Gerald Dunlap Skoning, 80, died peacefully among his family on Saturday, July 8th, 2023, following a brief illness. Mr. Skoning, known to his friends as Gerry, was born on August 29, 1942, the eldest son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Warren Gerald Skoning (Betty Dunlap). A man of great intellect and self-discipline, he was a consummate gentleman, who treated everyone with respect, spoke in measured tones, and expressed gratitude for the many blessings and experiences that comprised his extraordinary life.
Gerry often shared memories of what he described as an idyllic childhood in Geneva, Illinois, where he attended The Harrison Street School and played hockey along the Fox River. He went on to prep at Hotchkiss, followed by enrollment at Princeton, where he majored in Philosophy and excelled academically. He was a member of the Ivy Club and captain of the hockey team, remaining an active alumnus and lifelong supporter.
After graduating with honors from Princeton, he went on to study law at the University of Michigan. During this time, he also played for a semi-pro hockey team. Made up of many players from the 1963 NCAA championship Michigan team, they won the national amateur championship in 1966. He obtained his law degree in 1967, at which time America was embroiled in the war in Viet Nam. A man of honor and duty, he immediately enlisted in the Navy, where he served as Ship's Legal Counsel, and was qualified Officer of the Deck (under way), aboard the USS Independence. This military experience further strengthened his keen sense of patriotism.
Following an honorable discharge, he re-entered civilian life and launched a career practicing labor law at Seyfarth Shaw LLC in Chicago, where he became one of the youngest members of the firm to be made partner.
Gerry distinguished himself by handling numerous landmark cases, many of which went before the U.S. Supreme Court. He spent his entire career at Seyfarth, retiring in 2005 after over thirty-five years of service. A constant reader and gifted and prolific writer, his Op-Eds were regularly published, notably in The Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal and The Palm Beach Post. He also regularly posted essays he entitled "Midnight Musings", which covered observations and opinions of everything from politics to sporting events, celebrities misbehaving to the value of a penny. To read a compilation of these works now would invoke his wry sense of humor and a unique perspective on the state of our culture over the past thirty years. As a holiday greeting, he distributed an annual compendium of "The Wackiest Employment Law Cases of the Year", which was anticipated at least as much as the arrival of Saint Nick.
Gerry was an avid sportsman, who equally enjoyed a round of golf, keeping score at a Cubs game, a vigorous squash or tennis match, rollerblading on the lakefront or a cutthroat round of Hearts.
Atop all these accomplishments, he was just a great human being, who will be missed by all who called him a friend. Many did.
Gerry is survived by his wife, Mary Kruchko Burnstine, with whom he shared many years of love and laughter. Other survivors include his brother Mark Skoning of Geneva, Illinois and Chang Mai, Thailand; his sister, Elissa Bettcher of Wauconda, Illinois; his niece, Meredith Bettcher and his grandnephew, Brooks Bettcher, of Batavia, Illinois. He will be fondly remembered by Mary's stepchildren, Nancy Gupta, John Burnstine (Melissa) and Judy Wheatley; seven step-grandchildren and the extended Kruchko family. He is also survived by a daughter, Harriet.
A memorial service is planned for 4pm, Thursday, September 7th, at the University Club of Chicago, 76 East Monroe Street. In the spirit of Gerry's generosity, gifts of your own choosing would be welcomed. His favored causes include The Breakthrough Board, in support of cancer research at the University of Chicago. Online donations can be made at www.thebreakthroughboard.org, or by mail, to The Breakthrough Board at 6200 N. Hiawatha Avenue, Suite 640, Chicago, Illinois 60646.
He was also a supporter of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, where donations may be directed to www.chicagosfoodbank.org, or by mail at 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632.
Arrangements are being handled by the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN
To sign a guest book and leave condolences online visit our website at www.otthaverstock.com.