Lucille Ella Skaar

COTTAGE GROVE- Lucille E. Skaar, age 95, of Cottage Grove, passed away after a short illness on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at Agrace HospiceCare. She was born on Nov. 20, 1915, the daughter of Edward and Frieda (Dobberstein) Hein. Lucille began her education at the York Center one-room school, and graduated from Waterloo High School and the Whitewater State Teachers College. Lucille started her teaching career at Maple Grove one-room school. She was united in marriage to Selmer Skaar on March 6, 1948. Together they owned and operated the Selmer Skaar Insurance Agency, which Lucille independently maintained for 20 years after her husband died. Very active in the Cottage Grove community, Lucille was a member of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church for over 60 years and served in leadership roles for the village and several organizations. Lucille was a patient and kind mother and very involved and loving grandmother. She will be remembered for her patience, quick wit, and clever sense of humor. Lucille enjoyed playing cards and Sequence with her friends at Taylor Ridge Apartments, where she lived independently until age 95. She was affectionately nicknamed “turtle” by her grandchildren and collected over 100 turtles from around the world as gifts from family and friends’ travels. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen (James) Christoph of Cottage Grove; grandchildren, Erica Christoph of Baltimore and Dana Christoph of Minneapolis; sisters, Doris Davison of Sun Prairie and Violet (Kenneth) Geishirt of Madison; sisters-in-law, Marge Hein and Barb Hein; and many nieces and nephews. Lucille was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Selmer; and three brothers, James, Eugene and Richard Hein. A memorial service will be held at BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 229 N. Main Street, Cottage Grove, at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, with Rev. Craig M. Howard presiding and luncheon to follow. Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Memorials may be made in Lucille’s name to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church or the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society. Lucille’s family thanks her many caregivers at Wildwood Clinic, St. Mary’s Hospital, Oakwood Village East Rehab and Agrace HospiceCare. Memorials may be made in Lucille’s name to Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church or the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society. Visitation will be at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. A memorial service will be held at BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 229 N. Main Street, Cottage Grove, at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, with Rev. Craig M. Howard presiding and luncheon to follow.