Wes Skilton

John Wesley Skilton of Seward, Nebraska was born November 7, 1930 to Walter and Emily (Schrenk) Skilton in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wes graduated from Olney High School and continued his education at Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree.  Wes also studied piano and organ and was appointed organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Philadelphia where he met his future wife, Jean, who was a parish worker and Director of Education.  They were married at Immanuel Lutheran Church on June 12, 1954. Wes served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. The couple lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico where Wes was stationed at Sandia Base and their first daughter, Nancy, was born. After an honorable discharge from the Army they stayed in Albuquerque while Wes completed work on a Master of Education Degree at the University of New Mexico and continued his organ work at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin the summer of 1957 where Wes served as teacher, counselor, and assistant principal at Steuben Junior High School and John Muir Middle Schools for 32 years. Three children were born in Milwaukee - Shelley, Bethany, and Jon. Wes continued his avocation as Organist and Choir Director at Pentecost Lutheran Church, Covenant Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. He also held the office of Dean of the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Guild of Laymen's League at the church level and district level. In 1989 Wes retired from Milwaukee Public Schools. He and Jean moved to Seward, Nebraska. Wes continued in music as organist at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Staplehurst and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Milford and also substituted at other churches in the Seward area. Wes was piano accompanist for the men's chorus of the Seward Kiwanis "Kitones". He was also active in The Gideons International, serving in offices on the local and Nebraska state level. Wes passed away on October 18, 2025 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 94. Wes is survived by his children, Nancy (Robert) Thacker of Mauston, Wisconsin, Shelley (Fredrick) Schluckebier of Seward, Nebraska, Bethany (Thomas) Danek of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jon (Ann) Skilton of Largo, Florida; grandchildren, Erin Hays (Andrew Ratliff), Kim (Jeff) Frey, Stephanie (James) Harrison, Victoria Matulka, Cody (Madeline) Skilton, Jacob (Shiloh) Skilton, Brandon (Hailey) Skilton, Cassidie Skilton, and Marissa Skilton; 15 great grandchildren; step grandchildren, Justin (Lindsey) Danek, Andrew (Jennifer) Danek, and Chelsea (Todd) Kinstler; and 12 step-great grandchildren.  Wes was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Emily Skilton; wife, Jean Skilton; brothers, Walter Skilton and Edward Skilton. 

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