Skidmore, Russell D. 1953-2024 Stanberry, Mo.
By NewsPress Now
STANBERRY, Mo. – Russell Dale Skidmore passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
After a very recent cancer diagnosis, he chose to spend his final days comfortable at home on the family farm.
Russell was born to Bob and Donna (Pierce) Skidmore at the family’s Pierce Farm on Aug. 1, 1953. He grew up outdoors, along with his older sister, Ellen, and younger brother, Tom.
Russell spent his time caring for orphaned calves, lambs, or piglets, doing chores, helping with the garden, walking long rows of beans, or driving a tractor in the fields. Each year Russell and his siblings were sent to pick wild gooseberries with instructions not to come home until all three of the buckets were full. Although Russell often lagged behind while picking gooseberries, he really shined at any opportunity to be a prankster. One of his earliest pranks included him putting a chicken in the mailbox. Unfortunately for young Russell, that particular prank backfired on him when the mailman had a talk with his mother about how he didn’t like chickens flying out of mailboxes as he tried to deliver the mail. The pranks only escalated as Russell aged, and they often would involve a stick of dynamite. Thankfully for Russell, he knew how to act as surprised as everyone else when things suddenly blew up. As one of his closest friends recently said, some of the greatest times shared with Russell probably shouldn’t be talked about.
Russell graduated from Stanberry High School in 1972. He spent the majority of his working career at Walter Brothers Inc. in Maryville, Missouri, and later in life worked at Johnson Controls in, Albany, Missouri. He enjoyed boating, riding motorcycles, and old cars. Russell was the perfect dad for his two sons. They always had a good supply of dirt bikes, four wheelers, and guns at their disposal and Russ never had as many rules as some of the other parents. Russ, Brian, and Tim had many adventures based around the boys riding their “wheelers” as grandma would call them. Russell’s family also spent a lot of time at the lake boating, skiing, and tubing. He would drive the kids around all day long and loved every minute of it. Russ didn’t push his kids to do anything, he simply wanted them to always be happy, and to do good at whatever they chose.
In 2002 Russell’s personality of being a fun-loving, silly, trickster fit perfectly with his new title of “Papa.” He loved attending sporting events and activities that his grandkids were involved in.
Russell saw to it that the newest generation of Skidmore’s would know how to do a proper burnout, make it through the mud without getting stuck, run the excavator, and of course how to wisely use a stick of dynamite. Papa could be heard saying “watch this!” as he pulled out onto the highway in the diesel truck, punching it, and sending black smoke flying all the way up the hill, or “let’s go blow some stuff up!” as he gathered the necessary materials for an afternoon down on the bottom taking care of old, dead trees with his grandson.
Russell married Lisma (Hasibuan) on Oct. 18, 2005. After his retirement in 2015, they enjoyed several road trips together that included many parts of old Route 66, six national parks, and many other beautiful sights across the nation. Russell and Lisma spent a lot of time working and helping with whatever they could at Skidmore Farms.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Donna; his brother, Tom; and nephew, Bobby John.
He leaves behind his wife, Lisma; son, Brian (Amy) Skidmore, of Maryville; son, Tim (Mindy), of Smithville, Missouri; and daughter, Christie Nanninga, of Kansas City, Missouri; grandchildren, Bryson, Arianne, Morgan, Kyler, Kennisyn, Tyson, and Kellon; sister Ellen (Pat) Donovann; nephew, Ed; and nieces, Danielle and Kandace.
Russell’s ashes will be spread at the family farm in a private ceremony at a later date.
A special thank you to Three Rivers Hospice for helping to care for Russell the last three weeks, and to everyone who has supported the family through prayers, kind words, and gestures during this difficult time. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
