John Andrew Skowronek

John Andrew Skowronek, age 63, resident of Temperance, Michigan, passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022, at Ebeid Hospice surrounded by his family. He was born on May 14, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio, to the late Raymond and Rita (Malikowski) Skowronek. He was also preceded in death by his stepmom, Gloria (Sparagowski) Skowronek.

A 1976 graduate of Central Catholic High School, he worked as an accounts manager for Yarder Manufacturing for 42 years until he retired in 2020. He was a member of St. Catherine's Parish where he volunteered with their fish frys and chicken dinners.

John embraced you with his smile and it was then that you felt the warmth of his heart. He had a mechanical, mathematical mind, he loved a complex challenge. He saw things in three dimension where you and I saw one dimension. He was a problem solver. He was an inventor. Give him enough time and he'd figure out how to fit a square peg into a round hole and make it look so natural. He had skilled hands capable of bending and welding metal into many things like hockey goal nets for his kids. Or what about his famous fire ring with his perfectly stoked fire? With his hands he also loved to sew, paint, and tend to his garden. Wood was his clay. He could mold a block of wood into toys for his grandkids or form pieces of wood into anything from cabinets, oak mantels, bird houses, or more recently, a beautiful tea box. Cooking, no problem. He loved making polish coffee cakes, breads, bagels, kielbasa, smoked meats including his killer rueben sandwiches, homemade pickles, and jams. And while he was doing all this, he had his grapes fermenting in his basement getting ready for the holiday season with his "killer red" wine. Share a glass with him and you went home with a bottle! And somewhere amongst all this, you could find him on the golf course, another passion in his life. If you weren't aware of his God given physical talents, you now have a glimpse of what John enjoyed and loved doing.

John was a man of few words. If you really wanted to know what was going on in his beautiful head, walk around his garage. He left little clues, everywhere. Calculations, years of wine recipes, old photos and memos, empty Swisher Sweets cigar wrappers and the remaining evidence of those cigars in an ashtray...his simple pleasure.

Above all, John was a dedicated hard worker who also worked hard at enjoying life. Though complex, he lived a simple life. His priorities, Faith, Family, Friends, and Home. He was an early riser who enjoyed his cup of coffee with his dog Bella before the sun came up and the birds started singing. He savored the quiet morning moments before he made his daily list and started his day. He'd methodically complete his daily tasks, satisfied and content with the fruits of his labor, he would then sit in his backyard with the love of his life Gwen, and enjoy God's beauty, the nature surrounding him. God's birds would come to his yard to play and sing till the day was over. His yard was filled with cardinals, orioles, and bluebirds. His neighbors were envious! It was not unusual for the bluebirds to have three broods each year in his bluebird box.

He was always generous with his time and talents. He provided selfless support to his father over the years from cooking meals to sitting around and swapping stories. He never turned his back on anyone. Instead, he would extend his hand and give you a hug. His huge smile and sky blue eyes were infectious. They could turn your grey day into sunshine. You just wanted to be with him! Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and will be missed by all who knew him.

Those left to forever cherish his memory are his loving wife, Gwen (Counterman) Skowronek, whom he married on June 21, 2008; children, Robyn Simpson, Shanon (Hugh) Turnbaugh, Nathan Skowronek, Karen (Jay) Rudisill, Shawn (Eugeniya) McRae, Jennifer McRae, and Dylan McRae; grandchildren, Paige, Logan, Kiera, Ryan, Zeke, Dottie, Tegan, Violet, Hailey, Kylie, Sasha, and Charleigh; great grandchildren, Ashton, Hazel, and Hollynn; siblings, Mark (Lori) Skowronek, Tom (Sandra) Skowronek, Mary (Mark) Domalski, and Richard Skowronek; Linda Coleman mother of Robyn, Shanon, Nathan, and Karen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive guests Friday, February 25, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3655 King Rd, Toledo, Ohio. A Funeral Mass will begin Saturday, February 26th at 10:00 AM at St. Clement Catholic Church, 3030 Tremainsville Rd, Toledo, Ohio. The mass will be streamed live at: livestreamstoledo.com and look for John Skowronek Funeral.

The family would like thank the staff of Ebeid Hospice for their compassionate care of John. Memorial contributions may be made to Ebeid Hospice in memory of John.