Robert “Bob” Skagen
Robert “Bob” Skagen?, 82, died peacefully in his sleep the morning of January 4, 2015 in East Wenatchee, WA.
He was born on June 28, 1932 in Auburn, WA to Mabel and Oscar Skagen. He was raised on a dairy farm on the East Hill of Kent and graduated from Kent Meridian High School in 1950. Robert then attended Washington State College and graduated with a BS in Agriculture in 1954. He then joined the military and served his country as a Naval Aviator until 1958, and was hired the same year by Northwest Airlines as a commercial pilot.
He started his career as a co-pilot on numerous aircrafts and in 1969 became a Captain. He obtained type ratings on the B-727, DC-10, B-707 and B-747. He retired in 1991 as a 747 Captain, doing mostly oversees flights to the Orient.
Robert and Anne Kalmakoff were married in 1960 and the two of them raised their family in Issaquah, WA from 1970 to 1989 when Anne passed away from Cancer. In 1991, Robert married Ruthella Barnecut and they moved to East Wenatchee. WA where he has lived since then.
Robert is survived by his wife, Ruthella Skagen; sister, Blanche Speck and spouse Otto; daughter, Coleen Panerio and spouse Robert; son, Jeffery Skagen, daughter, Patricia Skagen; stepchildren, Ron Skagen, Dianne Skagen, Cris Lease; 16 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
He will be laid to rest with a graveside service at Hillcrest Cemetery in Kent, WA at noon on Thursday, January 8th followed by a reception at the Kent Memorial Park Building.
In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to Kent Zion Lutheran Church in Robert’s name. Donations will go to an educational trust being established in his name.
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