Gary Skoug

Gary was born June 5th, 1944 to Levi and Lila Skoug (O’Brien)and was raised on the family farm in Strum, WI. His early years consisted of taking care of his family and the farm after his father passed when he was 15, then going onto carpentry school.

He was married to Anna Mae Rud (Knudtson) and blessed with 3 loving children; Patrick, William (Bill) and Renee. Later on he married Debbie Fitzgerald and had a house of girls with Tanya, Tracy, and Tiffany.

Trucking was in Gary’s blood; he owned his cattle hauling business-- Skoug Livestock Trucking, then went onto drive for Marten Transport, Ashley Furniture for 21 years and was a 2+ million mile safety driver, Weiss Trucking, Jim Tweet Trucking, J&L Trucking, and lastly Lazy L Trailer Sales.

In 2013 due to health issues, he became a snowbird in Arizona. In 2020 Gary and Debbie bought a home and became permanent residents.

Back in his high school years racing was his hobby, he had a race track in the back field of his home farm in Strum, WI where him and his buddies would race on the weekends. He moved onto stock car racing, where he raced in Eau Claire, Menomonie, Bloomer, Fountain City and Bruce WI. His race car was #76 and when he retired from racing, his son, Bill, raced stock cars and kept the #76. Some of his other hobbies as the years went on; were raising draft horses and their colts. He spent many years doing parades, weddings, sleigh rides, wagon rides and enjoyed the many connections that were made. They enjoyed 20+ years at Flatters Resort in Holcombe, WI fishing, boating, and UTV riding. He was fond of going to all the horse pulls and cheering on his favorite draft horse teams.

Being the ultimate “fixer guy” there wasn’t anything that couldn’t be put back together without duct tape, caulking or shrink-wrap. If he ran out of items to fix he was always around to help others with their projects. As he settled into the Grandpa years and retirement he stayed entertained with grandkids, enjoying his time up North and when he moved to AZ where he enjoyed weekly breakfasts with friends and them coming to his man cave for chit chats.

To have known him was to love him as he was always cracking jokes, instigating mischief, picking and teasing, or yelling at the Packers like he was head coach in his recliner. He could always be seen with a baseball cap on and toothpick in his mouth.

He is preceded in death by his parents Levi and Lila, sister Sandra Garborg, father-in-law Merle Fitzgerald, brother-in-law Michael Fitzgerald.

Gary is survived by his wife Debbie, children Patrick Skoug (Tonya), William Skoug (Cheryl), Renee Skoug all of Osseo, WI. Tanya Crawford (Jamie) Tracy Olson (Dan), of Mondovi, WI and Tiffany Kees (Nathan) of Bowman, ND. Sister, Sonja Berg of Cherokee Village, AR. His many grandchildren; Miranda, Austin, Jordan, Logan, Nathan, and Katie Skoug, Steven, Rayanne (Denk), Ben Walker, Montana and Lance Crawford, Boe and CorDel Olson, Claira and Grant Kees along with great grandchildren; Jason Walker, Colt Leland and new grandson due in November.

August 1@ 3:00 pm there will be a service followed by celebration of life until 7:00. It will be held at W672 County Road H, Mondovi, WI; Dan and Tracy Olson residence.