12-26-2007, 04:39 PM
More St. Columban descendents: Obituary of Owen Skelly.
The Herald Review, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Obiturary: 8-14-2002
Owen Jerome 'Bud' Skelly Sr., 90, Cohasset, died Aug. 13, 2002, after a short illness.
He was born Jan. 23, 1912, in Cohasset, to Owen E. and Agnes M. Skelly. Brothers James, John and Owen E. Skelly were pioneer loggers, farmers and business owners in the Cohasset area. He joined the Army in 1941 and was assigned to several training bases in the United States prior to being sent to the European Theater. He served with Battery C, 243rd Field Artillery Battalion, 10th Tank Destroyer Division in Germany where he was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart. He married Helen Syrjamaki of Chisholm in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1944. He returned to Cohasset in 1948, working as a logger, farmer and iron miner and building an apartment building on the site of the Skelly Hotel. He was a longtime activist in state and local DFL politics and a member of St. Augustine's Catholic Church, DAV and the 50 Plus Club in Cohasset. He will be remembers for his story-telling ability, gracious manners and technical competency.
He is survived by his Helen, his wife of 58 years; two daughters, Gerry McGrane, Minneapolis, and Brenda Berglund, St. Louis Park; five sons, Owen (Jeanne) Skelly, Chicago, Ill., Garrett (Mercy) Skelly, Orange, Calif., Ed (Linda) Skelly, St. Louis Park, Dave (Carole) Skelly, Forest, Va., and Vern (Stephanie) Skelly, Grand Rapids; 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Eleanor Fleming, Palmetto, Fla.
Memorial are preferred to St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Cohasset.
Services: Saturday, Aug. 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Cohasset, with the Rev. Bruce Engen officiating.
Burial: Wildwood Cemetery, Cohasset.
Arrangements by Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids.
St. Columban connection:
Owen's father, Owen (Eugene) Skelly was born in St. Columban, Quebec, on March 20, 1869, to Michael Skelly and Judith O'Brien. Michael and Judith had eight children, John (1857), James (1863), Elizabeth (1865), Patrick (1867), Owen (1869), Edward (1871), Bridget (1873), Mary Ann (1875). After their mother Judith died, Michael married Ann Wells. Owen and his brothers and sisters relocated to the states (Michigan).
Michael Skelly had eight more children with Ann Wells, five of whom lived to adulthood. Maggie (1884), Mary Louisa (1887), Katie (1889), Ann (1892), Joseph ( 1893), Mark (1895), Agnes (1896), Annie Evelyn (1899) (my grandmother). (the majority are all buried in the St. Columban cemetery).
Just a note, Mary Louisa' daughter, Eileen Skelly Gauthier just celebrated her 94th birthday!
Should you require more information, please feel free to contact me:
kelley.orourke@videotron.ca
The Herald Review, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Obiturary: 8-14-2002
Owen Jerome 'Bud' Skelly Sr., 90, Cohasset, died Aug. 13, 2002, after a short illness.
He was born Jan. 23, 1912, in Cohasset, to Owen E. and Agnes M. Skelly. Brothers James, John and Owen E. Skelly were pioneer loggers, farmers and business owners in the Cohasset area. He joined the Army in 1941 and was assigned to several training bases in the United States prior to being sent to the European Theater. He served with Battery C, 243rd Field Artillery Battalion, 10th Tank Destroyer Division in Germany where he was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart. He married Helen Syrjamaki of Chisholm in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1944. He returned to Cohasset in 1948, working as a logger, farmer and iron miner and building an apartment building on the site of the Skelly Hotel. He was a longtime activist in state and local DFL politics and a member of St. Augustine's Catholic Church, DAV and the 50 Plus Club in Cohasset. He will be remembers for his story-telling ability, gracious manners and technical competency.
He is survived by his Helen, his wife of 58 years; two daughters, Gerry McGrane, Minneapolis, and Brenda Berglund, St. Louis Park; five sons, Owen (Jeanne) Skelly, Chicago, Ill., Garrett (Mercy) Skelly, Orange, Calif., Ed (Linda) Skelly, St. Louis Park, Dave (Carole) Skelly, Forest, Va., and Vern (Stephanie) Skelly, Grand Rapids; 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Eleanor Fleming, Palmetto, Fla.
Memorial are preferred to St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Cohasset.
Services: Saturday, Aug. 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, Cohasset, with the Rev. Bruce Engen officiating.
Burial: Wildwood Cemetery, Cohasset.
Arrangements by Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids.
St. Columban connection:
Owen's father, Owen (Eugene) Skelly was born in St. Columban, Quebec, on March 20, 1869, to Michael Skelly and Judith O'Brien. Michael and Judith had eight children, John (1857), James (1863), Elizabeth (1865), Patrick (1867), Owen (1869), Edward (1871), Bridget (1873), Mary Ann (1875). After their mother Judith died, Michael married Ann Wells. Owen and his brothers and sisters relocated to the states (Michigan).
Michael Skelly had eight more children with Ann Wells, five of whom lived to adulthood. Maggie (1884), Mary Louisa (1887), Katie (1889), Ann (1892), Joseph ( 1893), Mark (1895), Agnes (1896), Annie Evelyn (1899) (my grandmother). (the majority are all buried in the St. Columban cemetery).
Just a note, Mary Louisa' daughter, Eileen Skelly Gauthier just celebrated her 94th birthday!
Should you require more information, please feel free to contact me:
kelley.orourke@videotron.ca