Obituary for Joseph M Skeba Sr.
Joseph Michael Skeba Sr., 78, passed away peacefully on January 10th at his home in Monroe Township, New Jersey surrounded by his family.
He was born in Trenton, New Jersey to Stanley Skeba and Agnes Woloszyn Skeba.
He graduated from Trenton Catholic High School in 1960 and went on to attend Trenton Junior College.
Joseph is survived by his wife Laurie H. Skeba, children Joseph Skeba Jr., Jenean Meier, Bridget Stone, Daniel Skeba, and Stanley Louis Skeba, grandchildren Cole Meier, Nicholas Meier, Noah Meier, River Meier and Samuel Stone, brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Sandy Skeba, sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Alfred Finocchiaro, many loving nieces and nephews, and best friend Daniel Tedesco.
Joe’s passion and lifelong occupation was farming. He loved to “plant seeds and watch them grow.” He enjoyed sharing his love for farming with his children and grandchildren, handing down a legacy that was taught to him by his grandparents who emigrated from Poland in the early 1900s.
Joe was most at home outdoors. He had a true appreciation and love of nature. Countless memories were made fishing with his grandsons and children; hunting, walking through the woods, searching for arrowheads in his newly plowed fields, and watching the beavers build their dams on the Millstone river. He could be found most every morning in his kitchen “cozy corner,” Audubon manual in hand, identifying the birds frequenting his many feeders. By his side was his faithful companion, Meenu the cat, who was very dear to him and also an avid birdwatcher.
Joe had a quick wit, an awesome sense of humor and was quite the prankster. No one was safe from his hijinks and shenanigans. He looked forward to Sunday mornings in the barn with his cousin Walter and various other friends “solving the world’s problems”over coffee and donuts.
Each Christmas season, our family watched the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life“. Joe was too humble of a man to realize that he was our George Bailey. He made an impact on so many lives with his advice, his wisdom, and his positive outlook on life. His passing will leave a void in the lives of everyone who knew him. God bestowed many gifts on Joe some of which were his humor, his unwavering kindness, and his ability to forgive. His generosity knew no bounds; giving without ever wanting anything in return. His indomitable spirit carried both him and others through the hardest of times. His many gifts were too numerous to mention, but our gift was undoubtedly him.
Visitation will be held Thursday January 14th from 4-8 pm at the Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home, 202 Stockton St. Hightstown, NJ. Burial will be held privately with Joseph’s family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ronald McDonald House or Saint Jude‘s Hospital for Children- two charities dear to his heart.
He was born in Trenton, New Jersey to Stanley Skeba and Agnes Woloszyn Skeba.
He graduated from Trenton Catholic High School in 1960 and went on to attend Trenton Junior College.
Joseph is survived by his wife Laurie H. Skeba, children Joseph Skeba Jr., Jenean Meier, Bridget Stone, Daniel Skeba, and Stanley Louis Skeba, grandchildren Cole Meier, Nicholas Meier, Noah Meier, River Meier and Samuel Stone, brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Sandy Skeba, sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Alfred Finocchiaro, many loving nieces and nephews, and best friend Daniel Tedesco.
Joe’s passion and lifelong occupation was farming. He loved to “plant seeds and watch them grow.” He enjoyed sharing his love for farming with his children and grandchildren, handing down a legacy that was taught to him by his grandparents who emigrated from Poland in the early 1900s.
Joe was most at home outdoors. He had a true appreciation and love of nature. Countless memories were made fishing with his grandsons and children; hunting, walking through the woods, searching for arrowheads in his newly plowed fields, and watching the beavers build their dams on the Millstone river. He could be found most every morning in his kitchen “cozy corner,” Audubon manual in hand, identifying the birds frequenting his many feeders. By his side was his faithful companion, Meenu the cat, who was very dear to him and also an avid birdwatcher.
Joe had a quick wit, an awesome sense of humor and was quite the prankster. No one was safe from his hijinks and shenanigans. He looked forward to Sunday mornings in the barn with his cousin Walter and various other friends “solving the world’s problems”over coffee and donuts.
Each Christmas season, our family watched the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life“. Joe was too humble of a man to realize that he was our George Bailey. He made an impact on so many lives with his advice, his wisdom, and his positive outlook on life. His passing will leave a void in the lives of everyone who knew him. God bestowed many gifts on Joe some of which were his humor, his unwavering kindness, and his ability to forgive. His generosity knew no bounds; giving without ever wanting anything in return. His indomitable spirit carried both him and others through the hardest of times. His many gifts were too numerous to mention, but our gift was undoubtedly him.
Visitation will be held Thursday January 14th from 4-8 pm at the Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home, 202 Stockton St. Hightstown, NJ. Burial will be held privately with Joseph’s family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ronald McDonald House or Saint Jude‘s Hospital for Children- two charities dear to his heart.