Joshua Robert John Skattum

Joshua Robert John Skattum, age 29 of Tucson, AZ formerly of Darlington, WI passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, October 22, 2022, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born December 9, 1992, in Janesville, WI the first-born son to Rodney and Sandra (Kettler) Skattum. Joshua grew up in Darlington and graduated from Darlington High School in 2011. After high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point where he studied Wildlife Research and Management, Biology, and Captive Wildlife Management. It was there that he started to expand his passion and interest surrounding wildlife conservation.
This academic setting and environment led Joshua into discovering the empowering experience of being involved in volunteer fueled non-profits that engage their local communities in land stewardship, environmental education, and community science. After Joshua graduated from Stevens Point he moved to El Paso, TX where he became a zookeeper at the El Paso Zoo for 2 years. This passion continued as he relocated to Reid's Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona in 2018 as he pursued his wildlife career as a zookeeper while also jumping into the Community Science Desert Wildlife Program for the Coalition as a Pima County Master Naturalist (PCMN). One of his service projects as a Master Naturalist was contributing towards the Coalition's research on how wildlife linkages between our sky islands are impacted by roads and infrastructure. This project started with volunteering alongside PCMN Sam W, maintaining wildlife cameras at three sites: the Oro Valley wildlife overpass location, along I-10 (outside of Cienega Creek and Davidson Canyon), and now currently outside of the Tucson Mountains.
When Joshua wasn't checking wildlife cameras he served on the PCMN Board as the Communications Committee Chair. Within this role he helped create an inclusive environment while sharing the Cultural and Natural history of Arizona as well as Pima County Master Naturalist's experiences and volunteer work. In 2022, Joshua obtained his dream of working for "Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection." His internship would have been completed in December and he would have started fulltime with the Coalition in January 2023.
Joshua was a force to be reckoned with, a very bright ray of sunshine in an often dark world. His personality and smile always brought joy to those around him. He is already missed deeply but will be remembered fondly by his family and his friends.
Left behind to cherish his memories are his parents: Rodney and Sandy Skattum of rural Darlington; his brothers: Eric (Tianna) Skattum of Cuba City, WI and Andrew Skattum at home; his niece that he absolutely adored: Evelyn Skattum; his maternal grandparents: Marvin and Ilene of Platteville, WI; his paternal grandparents: Robert (Kathleen) Skattum of Horseshoe Bend, AR and Karlena (Rob) Woodward of rural Darlington; and many friends in both Darlington and Arizona. He was preceded in death by his great-grandma and grandpa Kettler; great-grandma and grandpa Skattum, great-grandma and grandpa Rowe, great-grandma and grandpa Hanvelt, great-uncle Rodney Rowe, great-aunt Karen Riemer, great-uncle Wayne Kettler, and two cousins: Ben Kettler and Kaci Kettler.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. at Darlington United Methodist Church (546 Main St., Darlington) with Rev. InSun Lee officiating. Burial will be in Union Grove Cemetery in Darlington. A visitation will be held Friday, November 4, 2022, from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Erickson Funeral Home (508 Main St., Darlington) and on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. at the Darlington United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to Reid Park Zoo and Coalition of Sonoran Desert Protection in Tuscon, AZ in Joshua's name.