Allen Skaggs

1983 - 2025

BLOOMINGTON - Allen Michael Skaggs, 42, of Bloomington, died at 9:12 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, doing one of the things he loved most: riding his motorcycle, just like his father taught him, and like he was starting to teach his own son.

Allen was born May 26, 1983, in Biloxi, Mississippi, the son of Randy Howard Skaggs and Christine Wissmiller. Growing up in Chenoa and Cooksville, Allen graduated from Calvary Baptist Academy and attended Heartland Community College.

Allen is survived by his wife, Robyn Skaggs; his two sons, Andrew Harley Skaggs, 19, of Normal, and Connor Michael Skaggs, 10, of Washington; his younger sibling, Onyx Charron, of Washburn; many special family members; countless friends; and three pet cats.

He was preceded in death by his father, Randy Howard Skaggs, of Chenoa, in 2023.

Allen married Robyn Michelle Gautschy on April 25, 2020, eloping at the Beall Mansion in Alton at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. That wasn't the original plan, but the two agreed it was the most special, fun and romantic thing they'd ever done together. Robyn and Allen still got to have the wedding they planned, but this time a renewal of vows, on May 22, 2021. (Allen liked to say that he loved Robyn so much that he married her twice.).

Allen was a true jack of all trades, absorbing skills and knowledge from every person and experience he encountered. He could cook, sew, work construction, do woodworking, drive a combine, reupholster chairs, install flooring, fix the plumbing, change the oil in your car. If he didn't know how to do something, he could almost always figure it out. And that was a good thing, as he and Robyn just purchased their first home, and Allen's to-do list had gotten a lot longer.

Allen began working on computers as a kid, and even made a business of building and fixing computers in the 1990s and 2000s. As an adult, he took over the basement at home with complex systems of network cable, servers, and other equipment that seemed to multiply each week. He shared this hobby with his sons.

And while computers may have been a hobby at home, he also spent most of his adult life working IT jobs, most recently at Eureka College (via Boldyn Networks), and previously at North Country Business Products and Caterpillar, among others.

Allen was a huge fan of NASCAR, military and aviation history, learning about and shooting guns, boating, gaming and, of course, motorcycles. You might have seen him out there -he was the guy with the red motorcycle and the furry blue and red shark helmet. He had a blast seeing people wave and laugh when they saw that helmet. He was silly like that.

Allen was also patient, gentle, practical, calm in times of stress, hardworking and determined. He had a great sense of humor. He appreciated the "little moments" in life, and tried not to let people or problems get to him. He would just shrug and say, "It is what it is."

Allen's boys were his true pride and joy. Co-parenting isn't easy, but Allen made it work no matter what, because nothing was more important to him than making sure his kids and wife were safe, loved and cared for in every way.

Allen also looked out for his sons' younger siblings, made and kept friends everywhere he went, helped neighbors and strangers in need, and doted on the family cats (despite saying for years that he wasn't a cat person. It wasn't long before Allen became the favored human in the household.).

When son Connor learned the devastating news that his daddy had died, he said, "He wasn't done teaching me yet." We all wanted more learning, more time, more love and more laughs with Allen. Life will never be the same.

Cremation has been accorded, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home in Chenoa is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to Allen's family.