Dr. Gregory John Skibinski

Dr. Gregory John Skibinski, 57, of Nixa, Mo., passed on December 30, 2009 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born on March 7, 1952 in Milwaukee, Wisc. to Ralph and Bernadette "Sadie" Skibinski. Dr. Skibinski was a 1975 graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He achieved his Masters in Social Work in 1981 and subsequent Ph.D. in 1989. He worked as a Professor in the School of Social Work at Missouri State University since 1995. His first priority was his family, especially his sons. His life long passion was ice hockey, to which he devoted much of his life to promoting youth hockey in Southwest Missouri. Dr. Skibinski married Ann M. Koszuth on July 18, 1986 and to this union they had 2 sons, Eric and Matthew Skibinski. He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Skibinski and other relatives and friends. He is survived by wife, Ann Koszuth; sons, Eric and Matthew Skibinski, all of Nixa; brother, Thomas Skibinski and wife, Tammy Rohloff; sister, Kathy Skibinski and husband Don Behling. He was a dear uncle to Lauren, Larisa, Kacey, Rebecca, Sarah, Andrew Jr., Dana, Leah, Anna Kate, Adam, Alaina, Gabriella, and Arianna. Visitation will be prior to services from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on January 2, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Services will be held at the church at 12:30 p.m. under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home East. At the request of the family, memorial contributions should be made to the Springfield Youth Hockey Association, 2733 E. Battlefield Rd, P.O. Box 221, Springfield, Mo. 65804.