Richard Louis "Dick" Skuta, age 93, devoted husband, loving father, cherished grandfather and great-grandfather, loyal son and brother, and man of faith, passed away peacefully at home in Tuscola on Tuesday evening, February 25, 2025. He was surrounded by members of his adoring family.

Richard was born on February 12, 1932, in West Frankfort, Illinois, the son of John and Susie (Marko) Skuta. (His father John and John's brother Andrew both emigrated from Slovakia through Ellis Island in the early 1900s and eventually settled in southern Illinois.) Richard graduated from West Frankfort High School in 1950 and earned letters as a varsity football player (offensive and defensive tackle) for the Redbirds during his junior and senior years. He was once invited to try out for the West Frankfort Cardinals, a Class D team for the St. Louis Cardinals, and, after serving in Korea, also received an invitation to play college football at Murray State College in Kentucky. Richard started working for Tate Cleaners in West Frankfort in the fifth grade and later worked at a local Texaco station there. He served in Korea from 1952 to 1954 in the United States Army (corps of engineers, rank of corporal) and was honorably discharged on July 22, 1954.  Upon his honorable discharge, Richard was authorized to receive a Merit Unit Citation, a Korean Service Ribbon with two bronze service stars, a United Nations Service Medal, and a National Defense Service Medal.

He married Jacquelyn Gail "Jackie" Weaver, a friend and co-worker of his sister Charlotte at West Frankfort City Hall, on July 22, 1955, at the Wesleyan Methodist Church in West Frankfort.  They had one son, Gregory Louis, who was born in Benton, Illinois, and one daughter, LaShon, who was born in Tuscola.

Richard, Jackie, and Greg lived in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, from August 1956 to June 1957 (where Richard worked for Texaco) before moving to Tuscola, where Richard accepted a position at the National Petrochemical Company/United States Industrials (USI) chemical plant. He worked there until 1974, when he became an electrician for the Zeigler Coal Company's mine # 5 in Murdock. He worked at the Murdock mine for 13 years until it closed in 1987, and then assumed a position with Southland Corporation (7-Eleven Stores) in Champaign the same year.  He worked for Southland until his retirement on January 1, 1993.

During his retirement, Richard and his wife Jackie enjoyed winter visits to Corpus Christi, Texas, and the Texas Gulf Coast for many years.  They later spent portions of their winters in Richmond, Virginia, with their daughter LaShon and in the Fort Myers, Tampa, and later Destin, Florida, areas.

A talented cook, Richard was particularly well known for his homemade cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls as well as his peanut squares. He also cranked many freezers of homemade ice cream. For many years, he was a member of the Tuscola Church of the Nazarene, for which he helped construct the building dedicated in 1973 and served as church treasurer and on the church board. In recent years, he and Jackie were affiliated with Eagle Mountain Assembly of God in Tuscola. In addition, Richard enjoyed fishing, Illini sports, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and visiting with Daggy Street passersby.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings (brothers George, Charles, and John and sisters Irene Morthland, Emma Pelker, Dorothy Baldi, and Sue Ann Clifford).

Richard is survived by his loving family: Jackie, his wife of 69 years; son Greg (wife Anne) of Edmond, Oklahoma; daughter LaShon (life partner Ruth Wiese) of Richmond, Virginia; grandson Jon of Yukon, Oklahoma; granddaughter Catherine "Cate" Wright (husband Justan) of Jones, Oklahoma; grandson Matt of Redondo Beach, California; two great-grandchildren, Adelyn and Everett Wright; his sister Charlotte Chapman Niehaus of Carbondale, Illinois; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Richard and his family are grateful to all of his caregivers at the Christie Clinic and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and particularly to Batlagundu Lakshminarayanan, MD, his cardiologist for more than 20 years.

Richard loved, was loved, raised his children well (alongside Jackie), served his country with devotion, and greatly and positively impacted the lives of those he touched.   His steady hand, welcoming grin, and generosity of spirit were special to all who knew him and will endure.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Eagle Mountain Assembly of God, 401 East Sale Street, Tuscola, IL, with Rev. Darin Elder officiating. Burial will follow at the Tuscola Township Cemetery with military graveside rites accorded.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm, Friday, March 7, 2025, at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, IL. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Memorials may be made to the SAM Food Pantry, 901 North Prairie Street, Tuscola, IL  61953.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com