Gregory Skoog

CW4 (ret.) Gregory Clinton Skoog, AKA Black Jack the Pirate, was born on August 10, 1947, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Clinton and LaVon Skoog and died on March 8, 2026, with family at his side.

Greg spent his growing up years as an Army military brat as his father served his country living in Colorado, the Chicago area, Brainerd, Ft. Holabird, Maryland, Japan and Pontiac, Michigan. He met the love of his life, Nancy (Graham) at a church youth group Christmas party. They married in June 1968. Greg was drafted into the US Army in December of that year and proudly served for 25 years 6 months and 27 days (Which he told to anyone who would listen). After service in Vietnam, they went to Germany, Ft. Bragg, NC, England, Washington D.C., Germany and then back to D.C.

Along the way they had 4 children: Lynae, Melanie, Kristen and Gary. After retirement they built a home in Brainerd, Minnesota and Greg felt he had roots for the first time in his life. They enjoyed being part of a community long term. Greg was an elder in his church. He made sure he was in church every Sunday no matter where he was in his travels, even in his later years pushing a walker or riding in a wheelchair. He also volunteered at Harrison Elementary School listening to children read. This and entertaining his son, Gary, led to the creation of "Black Jack the Pirate" and his entertaining all first graders in the district twice a year for many years as well as classes in Virginia for his grandsons.

He loved riding his motorcycle, snowmobile, and four-wheeler. His “hobby” was cutting wood to heat their home. It kept him very busy while the rest of the family balked when called upon to help. He also loved sports, of which baseball, archery, hunting, and racquetball were his favorites. Crossword puzzles helped to fill his time in retirement.

Left behind are his wife (of almost 58 years), Nancy (Graham); daughters, Lynae Knott Young (Jeffrey) of Virginia, Melanie Patton (Matthew) of Alabama, and Kristen Spielman (William); son, Gary of Brainerd; grandsons, Travis Knott (fiancé Alyssa), Stefan Knott (Jade) and Michael ‘Robbie’ Knott all of Virginia; sister, Cynthia Farnsworth of Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Deborah Pyke (Daniel) of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.

Greg was predeceased by his parents, Clinton and LaVon Skoog; grandparents, Floyd and Leora Olson, Myer and Nora Skoog; sister-in-law, Barbara Graham; and brother-in-law, Dennis Farnsworth.

The family would especially like to thank Good Samaritan Hospice for their exceptional care of Greg the last few months in his Virginia home.

A service for Greg will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Halvorson-Taylor Funeral Home in Brainerd, with Dr. Rev. Michael Hartwell officiating. There will be a visitation the hour prior to the service with a luncheon following the service and burial at Hillside Cemetery, Brainerd.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society.