1998
William
2024
William Skadden
March 31, 1998 — August 21, 2024
William S. (Bill) “MacDaddy” Skadden, 86, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the Pete & Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing Facility at Sturgeon Bay Memorial Hospital.
Bill was born March 31, 1938, in Rantoul, Illinois, to the Reverend William E. and Dorothy (Armes) Skadden. The eldest of six children, he displayed an adventurous spirit growing up in Buffalo Hart and Springfield, Illinois. His mother taught him how to fish and shoot a .22 by the age of six while his father, an inspirational speaker, took Bill on the road with him to speaking events where he met the likes of Slim Williams and Paul Harvey. Like many young men of his time, Bill spent his summers working for pocket money picking watermelons, baling hay, or manning the lunch counter at Allen’s Cigar Store.
Bill studied science at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, where he met the love of his life, Nancy Lee Mackey in the Fall of 1957. They were married in Billings on July 11, 1958. He graduated from Rocky in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in science and began his teaching career in Springfield, Illinois, before moving to Beatty, Nevada. Daughter, Anita, joined the family in Beatty before they moved to Squaw Island in Little Sturgeon where they welcomed son, Bill.
Bill taught for four years in Luxemburg-Casco before joining the faculty at Sturgeon Bay Junior High School where he taught ninth grade Earth Science for 27 years. He coached several sports, including wrestling and track at Sturgeon Bay. His summers were filled with supplemental work, leading students on summer trips to Wyoming, family travel and graduate studies. He earned a master’s degree from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1973. His dissertation was the basis for his book, “The Geology of Door County,” published in 1974.
An avid photographer, Bill photographed weddings, graduations, and commercial advertising for local businesses, as well as school and community events, Door County scenes, and mountain landscapes from his travels. He was a regular contributor to the Advocate and the Resorter Reporter. Bill’s community activities included working to establish the Ice Age Trail, curating the geology exhibit at the Door County Museum, presenting educational programs at Peninsula State Park, and teaching Mac, iPad, and iPhone skills with Nancy at NWTC through the Learning in Retirement program.
Although Bill retired from teaching in 1996, he had another act up his sleeve. An early adopter of Apple technology, Bill found his calling in retirement repairing and troubleshooting Mac computers. Mac Daddy was well known to Door County’s community of artists and musicians as the person to call when they needed more than a technician on a helpline. Bill was a passionate supporter of Door County’s music scene and a regular fixture at open mic nights, performances, and music events, and he provided IT support for the annual Steel Bridge Music Festival.
Bill always had time for a cup of coffee and a story or a song and was always ready to help a friend or a stranger in need. He had more than a passing interest in weather phenomena, and he was known to chase a total eclipse through multiple states (and even Canada) to get a clear view. Bill cherished Nancy throughout their 66 years of marriage. He was proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments, and of his students’ successes. He most wished to be remembered as a good friend.
Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Sturgeon Bay, sisters Nancy Feld of Sturgeon Bay, Leah (Jack) Fink of Floral Park, NY, and brother Jim (Vanda) Skadden of Colorado Springs, CO; children, Anita (Frank) Pandolfe of Washington, DC, and Bill (Gretchen) Skadden of Maplewood, MN; niece Jennifer (Bob) Rude of Prior Lake, MN; grandchildren Leo (Mara) Skadden, Will Skadden and Francesca Pandolfe and grandnephews Robert and Jonathan Rude, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather Ed Thomas, and sisters Rose Marie Doty and Mary Beth Hutchinson.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 15th at 4:00 p.m. at Hope United Church of Christ, 141 S. 12th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Refreshments will be served following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of these 501(c)(3) organizations: Steel Bridge Creative Foundation (steelbridgecreativefoundation.org) or Feed & Clothe My People ( www.feedmypeoplesturgeonbay.org ).
The Skadden family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the entire staff of the Pete & Jelaine Horton skilled nursing facility and Unity Hospice for the exceptional care they gave to Bill and to the whole family throughout his last months of life.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com .
Bill was born March 31, 1938, in Rantoul, Illinois, to the Reverend William E. and Dorothy (Armes) Skadden. The eldest of six children, he displayed an adventurous spirit growing up in Buffalo Hart and Springfield, Illinois. His mother taught him how to fish and shoot a .22 by the age of six while his father, an inspirational speaker, took Bill on the road with him to speaking events where he met the likes of Slim Williams and Paul Harvey. Like many young men of his time, Bill spent his summers working for pocket money picking watermelons, baling hay, or manning the lunch counter at Allen’s Cigar Store.
Bill studied science at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, where he met the love of his life, Nancy Lee Mackey in the Fall of 1957. They were married in Billings on July 11, 1958. He graduated from Rocky in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in science and began his teaching career in Springfield, Illinois, before moving to Beatty, Nevada. Daughter, Anita, joined the family in Beatty before they moved to Squaw Island in Little Sturgeon where they welcomed son, Bill.
Bill taught for four years in Luxemburg-Casco before joining the faculty at Sturgeon Bay Junior High School where he taught ninth grade Earth Science for 27 years. He coached several sports, including wrestling and track at Sturgeon Bay. His summers were filled with supplemental work, leading students on summer trips to Wyoming, family travel and graduate studies. He earned a master’s degree from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1973. His dissertation was the basis for his book, “The Geology of Door County,” published in 1974.
An avid photographer, Bill photographed weddings, graduations, and commercial advertising for local businesses, as well as school and community events, Door County scenes, and mountain landscapes from his travels. He was a regular contributor to the Advocate and the Resorter Reporter. Bill’s community activities included working to establish the Ice Age Trail, curating the geology exhibit at the Door County Museum, presenting educational programs at Peninsula State Park, and teaching Mac, iPad, and iPhone skills with Nancy at NWTC through the Learning in Retirement program.
Although Bill retired from teaching in 1996, he had another act up his sleeve. An early adopter of Apple technology, Bill found his calling in retirement repairing and troubleshooting Mac computers. Mac Daddy was well known to Door County’s community of artists and musicians as the person to call when they needed more than a technician on a helpline. Bill was a passionate supporter of Door County’s music scene and a regular fixture at open mic nights, performances, and music events, and he provided IT support for the annual Steel Bridge Music Festival.
Bill always had time for a cup of coffee and a story or a song and was always ready to help a friend or a stranger in need. He had more than a passing interest in weather phenomena, and he was known to chase a total eclipse through multiple states (and even Canada) to get a clear view. Bill cherished Nancy throughout their 66 years of marriage. He was proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments, and of his students’ successes. He most wished to be remembered as a good friend.
Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Sturgeon Bay, sisters Nancy Feld of Sturgeon Bay, Leah (Jack) Fink of Floral Park, NY, and brother Jim (Vanda) Skadden of Colorado Springs, CO; children, Anita (Frank) Pandolfe of Washington, DC, and Bill (Gretchen) Skadden of Maplewood, MN; niece Jennifer (Bob) Rude of Prior Lake, MN; grandchildren Leo (Mara) Skadden, Will Skadden and Francesca Pandolfe and grandnephews Robert and Jonathan Rude, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather Ed Thomas, and sisters Rose Marie Doty and Mary Beth Hutchinson.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 15th at 4:00 p.m. at Hope United Church of Christ, 141 S. 12th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Refreshments will be served following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of these 501(c)(3) organizations: Steel Bridge Creative Foundation (steelbridgecreativefoundation.org) or Feed & Clothe My People ( www.feedmypeoplesturgeonbay.org ).
The Skadden family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the entire staff of the Pete & Jelaine Horton skilled nursing facility and Unity Hospice for the exceptional care they gave to Bill and to the whole family throughout his last months of life.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Skadden, please visit our flower store.
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