Donald Lee Skyllingstad

1948 - 2011

Donald (Don) Lee Skyllingstad passed away on July 5, 2011, at the age of 63, while on vacation at Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, where he was visiting his childhood friend Wayne Hollingshead and his wife Kathy.

Don was born on April 27, 1948, in Ventura, and spent his life there. Don graduated from Ventura High School in 1966. He had a very strong work ethic which he got from his parents, Lee and Grace Skyllingstad. Rain or shine, sick or well, he put on his boots every day and got out there. He worked in construction for many years and spent the last 20 years of his career with the Southern California Gas Company.

In the early years Don was very involved in his local sports car club; putting on rallies with his clubs and annual camping trips. He loved the beach, enjoyed surfing , water skiing, and taking his canoe out on the ocean, lakes and rivers. His favorite place to be on the water was Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, where he has been going since he was a child with his parents and sister, then later his wife and children and grandchildren. Don was very active in coaching his children in sports. He loved participating so much that he became a certified umpire so that he could stay involved long after his children stopped playing. It was an activity that he enjoyed very much. We always knew that when he had his umpire bag with him when he left for work in the morning, that he would come home with stories of a good game. In his later years, Don became quite the baker. His famous pies and pumpkin bread, and pecan brittle were enjoyed by many. His lemon meringue pie took the first place ribbon at the Ventura County Fair in 1999 after placing second the year before. He also became an avid fan of USC football and could be found most days of the week sporting his cardinal and gold with either a hat, t-shirt, or sweatshirt.

Don had wonderful sense of humor. He loved to make people laugh with his jokes and stories. The tables could be easily turned to get him to laugh, uncontrollably, with a laugh that could not be ignored nor mistaken for anyone else's, "hee hee hee hee, snort snort snort, hee hee hee," deep breath, and repeat. . . Don could be found every morning around 7:30 a.m. with his "Board of Directors," a group of neighbors and friends, at Django's Coffee Shop catching up on the local news and happenings of the neighborhood. Most of all, Don, was a loving husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

Donald Lee Skyllingstad is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cheryl Skyllingstad; sister, Carol Burgoa and brother-in-law Jim Gonsman; daughters, Karen Legat, Danita Crosby, Kelly Skyllingstad, Ryann Skyllingstad Stough, and son, Jason Skyllingstad; grandchildren, Steven Leos, Kirsten Akers, Susan Akers, Matthew Legat, Meghan Legat, Dylan Atwood, Mackenzie Atwood, Makayla Atwood; and one great-grandson, Aleksei Akers.

The family will be holding a memorial service at Surfer's Point in Ventura at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 14, open to family and friends.