Dan Skeen

Dan Herman Skeen

May 16, 1939 ~ June 24, 2015

It was a very sad June 24, 2015 at the passing of Dan Herman Skeen due to complications from cancer.

Dan was a very young 76 years old, born May 16, 1939 at the old Dee Hospital to Charles W. and Wanda Layton Skeen. He graduated from Ogden High School, class of 1957.

He married Jean Close in 1957; they later divorced. He then married his main squeeze Jodi Hudson in August 1973.

Dan (or Danny) entered the Utah National Guard, and later the US Air Force. After he left active military service, he worked as a civilian computer analyst for Hill Air Force Base until his retirement in 1993. He was also a member of the Scare Canyon Association and a horse club, was a South Ogden reserve police officer and a certified Ambulance Attendant for Ace Ambulance, and competed as part of the Hill Air Force Base Rescue and Relay horse competition. He spent many weekends participating in the demolition derbies at Lagoon in the 1970s.

Dan was frequently referred to as the “glue” of the Skeen family- organizing parties and get-togethers to collect everyone for some fun. He loved games and puzzles, gardening, horses, old cars, camping and pulling a prank whenever he got the chance. He was kindness personified- always doing things for others before thinking of himself. He had a life-long love affair with making horseradish, and the family was always excited to receive his newest, sinus-clearing batch.

He is survived by his loving wife Jodi, as well as his sons, Dan L. Skeen (Judi), Rock Springs, WY, Mike Skeen, Ogden, UT, Clifton W. Skeen (Margarita), Ogden, UT; daughter, Debra Skeen, Ogden, UT, as well as 6 grandchildren and 6.5 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are three brothers, Roy A. Skeen (Rena), Syracuse, Gilbert L. Skeen (Linda), Layton, and Robert L. Skeen (Joyce), North Bend, OR, sisters-in-law Tammy Skeen, Grand Junction, CO and Shirley Skeen, Layton, UT, numerous loving nieces and nephews who thought the world of their Uncle Danny, his dogs Zoey, Andy and Molly, parrot Wilbur, and kitty Flipper. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Michael W., Raymond W. and Charles O., and sisters Barbara Challenger and Jean Reuber. We are comforted to imagine that the family dealt him into their poker game when he arrived on the other side.

We would like to sincerely thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Huntsman Cancer Hospital and Rocky Mountain Care for the extraordinary service, kindness, and care provided to Danny and the whole family.

A Celebration of Dan’s life will be held on Monday, June 29, 2015 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South.  Friends may meet family on Monday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.