Susan Skinner

Susan Skinner, age 88, of Chesterfield, Missouri passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on February 1, 1935 to Vernon and Ione Benson (nee McOmber).

Susan is survived by her loving sons, David Skinner of Vincennes, Indiana, and John (Suzanne) Skinner of Lee's Summit, Missouri; son-in-law, Dr. Gregg Hosch of Chesterfield, Missouri; treasured grandchildren, Jack Skinner, Ali Skinner, Susan Skinner, Sara (Brett) Eaves, Kelly (Joe) Lovas, Ben (fiancée Mary Hollenbach) Hosch, Zach (Megan) Skinner, Abby (Michael) Rowe, and James (Kristin) Skinner; adored great-grandchildren, Brayden Eaves, Calder Eaves, Wesley Eaves, Payton Skinner, Jack Skinner, Amelia Rowe, and Caroline Rowe; and a host of other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Skinner; cherished daughter, Jenny Hosch; precious granddaughter, Angela Skinner; and dear parents, Vernon and Ione Benson.


Sue was an only child. Her father had a job with General Mills that required the family moving a few times while growing up. She spent her middle and high school years in Appleton, Wisconsin where she excelled academically while being involved in theatre and student council. It was during this time she began building lifelong friendships. Sue then went on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she continued to shine.
It was during her time there when she met a man who grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin and had recently come home from serving in the Korean War. A few months after graduating with an English degree, Sue married Jim Skinner, on August 18th, 1956. For the next 51 years, until Jim's passing, they built and lived an extraordinary life together.
Jim's job took the two of them to a suburb of Chicago where Sue taught high school English until 1959 when she birthed two children that year, David, in January and Jenny in December, also known as Irish twins.
From then on, Sue's career was that of a homemaker. Jim's job took the young family to Boston for a few years. Unable to get down the accent and being offered another promotion, meant packing up yet again and moving to a suburb of Minneapolis. One night while they were lying in bed discussing their future and two children, they agreed that they could do better. John came along in 1964 and the family was complete.
Another promotion took the family south to a suburb in St. Louis in 1965 at which time Sue declared that was their last move and this was where they would raise their children. Twenty-four years later in 1989 Jim was able to easily convince Sue that spending the winter months in Naples, Florida was a good idea. For the next three decades Sue spent six months a year at their Naples home until health issues required her to stay in St. Louis year-round.
Sue had an active and adventurous life up until the last few years. She spent more than 50 years as a volunteer at Mercy Hospital. She also volunteered and supported food pantries in St. Louis and Naples often making Costco runs filling multiple carts to make certain the shelves were never empty.
She was an avid reader. Decades of reading two or more books per week and constantly learning. She could discuss about any topic and put critical thought into the conversation.
Sue had a packed social life for decades. She was in a women's bowling league for many years, where it was more for the camaraderie than the competition. There were overnight float trips on the Current River with quite a few friends and she and Jim spent numerous Saturday nights playing bridge with other couples. She was part of a group called 'Play Readers' in which a comedy or drama was picked, members were selected to play the parts and then they performed for the group reading from the book as they moved around the stage. During the year end banquet, 'Hammies' were given out to the best actors voted on by all the members. The award looked like a squeaky dog toy piece of ham on a black wooden block, but the actors were proud of them. Sue won several in both comedy and drama. Both Jim and Sue's awards were hung on some empty walls in the living room for years until they replaced them with slightly more upscale paintings from their travels around the world.
Sue had a fantastic sense of humor with great timing and could easily play off others. There were times people laughed and on occasion, jaws dropped.
She loved to host parties. For years during Memorial Day weekend Sue and Jim hosted a 'Stamp out Scurvy' party in which the OJ and Champagne were flowing. Weeks before the party they would drive around to friend's homes, places of work, church, a baseball field or the pool and take a picture of them. The couple's ticket into the party was to 'come as you were.' A white poster board had their pictures on it. You would witness women coming in wearing curlers and a night gown, couples in their Sunday best, wet swimsuits as they were caught getting out of the pool, and tennis and referee outfits to name a few. Everyone owned it, laughed and partied until the food and beverages had been exhausted.
Sue was a woman of faith and attended Sunday Mass as did most of her and Jim's friends. The priest at the time, Father Dollard, was busy in the confessional with this group.
Cardinal football games were a must, unless the weather was freezing. Then one of the kids was lucky enough to go to the game.
Sue and Jim traveled the world with friends and captured these times with thousands of photographs that are now in an endless number of albums. From seeing the Fall foliage up east to Napa County out west, to pyramids and safaris, they spent time on six continents. They took trains, buses, cars, every size boat and ship to flying on the Concorde to get to their destinations. There were few places they did not visit.
It was a different story in the 70s. Then it was pack up the Ford Country Squire station wagon with three kids and Libby the Labrador and head up to Spicer Minnesota and spend a week on Green Lake with more than a dozen cousins. Seat belts were optional and there was a small opening in the window to let some of the smoke out. A&W was as fancy as it would get for lunch on the way through Iowa. Sue kept the peace and prevented Jim from dropping the kids off in any town on the way up as he usually had enough of the backseat bickering a few hours into the eleven-hour journey.
While at the lake it was mostly grilling burgers and hotdogs outside of the cabin. Everyone had a great time and there were many fond memories, but Sue was ready to travel without the kids.

Sue continued her generosity after Jim passed away. They were both big believers in education and set up a sizeable foundation at the University of Wisconsin to help veterans who were honorably discharged from the military pay for some of their college. Their foundation helps others as well. They financially supported dozens of friends and related family members children with their education including advanced degrees. Sue helped countless people who just needed some assistance without judgement. When asked how they could be repaid, they both suggested helping others if they were ever in position to do so. This was always done behind the scenes with no fanfare.
Sue and Jim made a good team. It is fair to say that they both worked hard and played hard, and, in the end, they changed many lives for the better.
Sue had her struggles. She twice beat lung cancer and faced other health issues often with dignity and poise. Her faith helped her during difficult times.
She lived nearly 89 years and had a hand in raising three children without too much drama. She was able to pass on her humor, wisdom kindness and generosity.
Sue kept friendships from every period of her life and her legacy will carry on. She will be missed.

There will be a private family gathering for her committal at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on Thursday, December 21st where she will be reunited with her loving husband Jim.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sue's honor to Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation

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