Kenneth (Kenny) John Skakal

Kenneth (Kenny) John Skakal or “Pa Skakal,” 72, as most knew him, passed away on Nov. 30, 2020, at the age of 72 in El Dorado Springs.

Due to complications from a fall, Kenny was hospitalized in Joplin. This fall accelerated the progression of his battle with cancer and Kenny’s wishes were to go home. As the ambulance was bringing Kenny home and was one mile south of the family home, he went to his home in Heaven.

Kenny lived on the family farm his entire life. They milked cows and farmed the land. He worked at Producer’s Grain and was Manager of the Exchange for many years when it was located downtown.

Kenny married Janice Sallee on Jan. 28, 1968. Two daughters were born, Jan and Jill. He later married Kathy Sharp on July 4, 1993. A son, Kody, was born.

Kenny was a hunter and a fisherman. He enjoyed fishing, especially the yearly trips in May to his nephew, Troy’, home for a week of trotline fishing for flathead and white catfish. He also loved crappie fishing. Kenny enjoyed all kinds of hunting – coon, dove, antelope, deer, turkey and especially quail. He had several good hunting dogs in his time. He especially enjoyed fish fries and deer camp, where he shared good food, laughed with family and friends or just sat around the camp fire.

Kenny always enjoyed family and friends stopping by his home to visit. If someone needed a helping hand with something, he would drop whatever he was doing to help anyone who needed it. Kenny especially enjoyed when Floyd would stop by to visit or pick him up to go somewhere. He was also known to be somewhat ornery and loved pulling pranks on people and telling jokes.

Kenny was saved and is in his Heavenly Home.

Preceding Kenny in death were his parents, John and Ruby Skakal; wife, Janice Skakal; her parents, Alden and Betty Sallee; Kathy’s parents, Jinks and Betty Sharp; sisters-in-law, Connie Williams and Nancy Melton; and brothers-in-law: Randy Melton, Roy Lasley and John Sharp.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy, of the home; daughters, Jan Rowland and Jill and Jeff Janes; son, Kody Skakal and Ginelle Esry, all of El Dorado Springs; grandchildren – Dalton Howell and Jacque Flynn, Shawnda and Chris Edwards, Shay Thomas, Bre Thomas, Brandon and Destiny Jennings, and Cody and Bailey Janes; great-grandchildren: Jayden Howell, Reggie, Dayton, Layna, and Octavia Edwards, Brooklyn, Maddison, Braiden and Corbin Jennings, and Cara, Heidi, and Mitchum Janes; sisters and brothers-in-law: Karen Schwalm, Velva Lasley, Jim Williams, and Tony and Betty Sallee; a very special nephew (more like a son), Troy and Angel Lasley; a very special niece, Chris and John Burris; sister, Judy and Lynn Mann and family; and many other family members, friends, and neighbors.

A visitation was held Thursday, Dec. 3, at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. A graveside service was held on Friday, Dec. 4, at the El Dorado Springs City Cemetery with Rev. Brent Bland officiating. Interment followed under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were – Jason Painter, Daniel Wosoba, Jeff Boultinghouse, Eric Butterfield, Josh Nikodim and Josh Barre. Honorary pallbearers were – Greg Algin, Fred Wosoba, Floyd Wosoba, Allen Zimmerman, Matt Bishop and Harry Boyle.

A dinner was provided at the Wosoba Trucking Office, west on 54 Hwy. after the graveside service.

Memorial donations may be made to help the family with expenses and left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at: www.blandhackleman.com.