Louis Skubic, 97, formerly of Brookings, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 29, 2018, at Tiger Place in Columbia, MO, with family by his side. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings. Rude’s Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Louis G. Skubic was born on Aug. 7, 1921, in Eveleth, MN, the son of John and Theresa (Rus) Skubic.
Lou graduated from Eveleth High School in 1940 and received an Associate Degree in Science from Eveleth Junior College. While there, he met the love of his life, Mary Ann Finc. In 1942 he entered the Duluth Branch of the University of Minnesota, where he studied engineering. In 1943 he entered the U S Navy V-12 Officer Training Program which took him to Minot, ND, then to Columbia University where he completed Officer Training and was commissioned. Lou was assigned to the USS Oak Hill, (LSD 7), which saw action in many of the major landings in the Asiatic and Pacific Theater.
After discharge from the Navy, Lou married Mary Ann Finc on June 1, 1946.
They moved to Duluth where Lou completed his BS degree after one year and an MS degree several years later from the University of Minnesota. From 1947 to 1954, he served as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Sault Ste Marie Branch of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. In 1954, the family moved to Brookings, SD where Lou joined South Dakota State University as a Professor of Mechanical and General Engineering. He later served as head of the General Engineering Department, assistant to the Dean of Engineering, and as Acting Dean of Engineering for one year. While at SDSU, he received further education in computer science from the University of Wisconsin. He also received a Post Baccalaureate certificate from the University of Illinois for his participation in the Academic Year Institute sponsored by the National Science Foundation in science and machine design. He retired in 1985 as Professor Emeritus.
After retirement, Lou remained active in the Brookings community. He taught AARP’s Driver safety program for 24 years. He served on the VFW/American Legion Honor Guard, delivered Meals on Wheels, and drove the elderly to appointments in Brookings and in Sioux Falls, all until well into his 90s. He received Outstanding Service awards from AARP and the SDSU ROTC department. He was past Grand Knight of the Brookings Knights of Columbus Council and past president of the following: South Dakota and Brookings Area Retired Teacher’s Associations, Golden K Kiwanis, and Brookings Lions Club.
His hobbies included playing the buttonbox accordion, gardening, and working in his shop. He and Mary Ann traveled extensively, attended polka festivals, and enjoyed entertaining at local events and nursing homes.
Following the death of Mary Ann, Lou moved to TigerPlace in Columbia, MO, where he was a volunteer participant in research studies and continued to play his buttonbox accordian. Lou is survived by his three children: Dr. Patrick Skubic of Norman, OK, Dr. Stanley (Blanche) Skubic of Gold River, CA, and Dr. Marjorie Skubic (Dan Fischbach) of Columbia, MO; and six grandchildren: Marie Skubic, Victoria (Tori) Skubic, Sarah Skubic, Kathryn Cecil ‘KC’ Skubic, Theresa Skubic Fischbach, and Michel Jacques (Jake) Fischbach.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann; one daughter, Marie; one sister, Rose; three brothers, John, Joe, and Stan; and daughter-in-law Juan Duan Skubic.
Memorial donations can be made to the SDSU Foundation, in support of the Louis and Mary Ann Skubic Scholarship Fund for Engineering and Physics Students.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
