John "Jack" Phillip Skocir

Jack Skocir, age 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He leaves behind his loving wife of 55 years, Peg, his children; Julie Cady, Jeff (Mary Pat) Skocir, Jill (Bart) Montgomery, and Jamie (Chris) Wahlen, and grandchildren; Sam, Alex, Jonah, Sawyer, Graham, Charlie, and Cate along with nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Jack was born on February 3, 1947, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Anthony and Marge Skocir. Jack grew up with his older brother, Bob, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and spent many happy years being spoiled by his maternal grandparents, who lived upstairs. He attended St. Pius X grade school and had many fun times at the school roller rink which was the highlight of the neighborhood. Jack attended Francis Jordan High School where he played clarinet in the band, sang in the choir, and met his best friend Bill Kowske, who introduced him to his sister Peggy.

Jack and Peggy began dating and when she went away to college, they maintained a four-year long-distance relationship. They planned to get married in September of 1968 but Jack joined the Army Reserves and was sent to basic training. The wedding was postponed to December 28, 1968, at St. Sebastian’s Church in Milwaukee. A major blizzard swept through the city that same day and after shoveling out the cars, Jack and Peg made it to the church on time and the rest is history.

Throughout the 1970s, Jack became a dad to four children: Julie, Jeff, Jill, and Jamie. He loved attending various sporting events, dance recitals, band concerts, and any other activities the kids were involved in.

Jack’s first job after graduating high school was in a data processing center, which sparked his interest in computers and programming. He earned his associate's degree from MATC and worked in computer programming for the remainder of his career. He spent over 25 years working at what is now FIS, maintaining software he helped to create that printed bank statements. Jack knew a lot about early computers and could talk endlessly about IBM printers.

In 1980 Jack moved his family to Mequon and joined St. James Parish (now Lumen Christi). Jack met the choir director, Larry, and he and Peg joined. Singing in the choir became one of Jack’s favorite pastimes and he enjoyed singing and socializing with his fellow choir members. When the choir director moved to Holy Family Parish in Whitefish Bay, Jack and Peg changed parishes so they could continue singing with the group of people who had become some of their closest friends. Music was one thing that Jack always felt connected to, and he sang in the choir up until the fall of 2023 when he just couldn’t anymore.

Along with singing, Jack loved history, science fiction, all things space, and Star Trek. He was a skilled card player and especially enjoyed a good game of Sheepshead or Bridge. He enjoyed cutting the grass and took good care of his beloved John Deere tractor.

After he retired, his love of puzzles and coin collecting grew, and he continued to research and study coins. He was especially fond of his dimes and would often show off his collection to his children and grandchildren, no matter how willing they were to look at it!

Jack was always early to everything which, at times, annoyed his wife and children. He always wore a watch and was happy to share the time with anyone. Family vacations were always spent with Jack waiting patiently for his family to get ready to go.

Jack was kindhearted, loved to laugh, and could talk anyone’s ear off. He was a life-long learner and enjoyed reading the newspaper and any magazine he could find. Even when he could no longer read, he still enjoyed looking at the pictures and thumbing through the pages.

He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was always willing to help anyone who needed it. He will be greatly missed.

“Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives, but I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment because they will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we’ve lived.”- Jean Luc Piccard (Star Trek)

Thank you to the wonderful loving staff at Lumia Memory Care in Mequon and Brighton Hospice. We are eternally grateful for the care you gave Jack, especially during these last few months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A memorial gathering will be held for Jack on Friday December 27, 2024, from 10:30am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 12 Noon, all at Holy Family Parish Church, 4825 N. Wildwood Ave. Whitefish Bay. In lieu of flowers, donations to Alzheimer’s Association.

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