Obituary of Ronald Alexander Skinner

Ronald Alexander Skinner (aka Ron, JR, Junior, Skinny, Big Ron, …) was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan on July 9^th, 1958 to Sara Doris (Thorarinson, 1929-2021) and Ronald Leigh Skinner (1928-2003). He was the youngest of three, with older sisters Leanna Rae (1951-2021) and Kimberley Dawn (1956) providing equal parts love and guidance and friendly teasing his entire life. Ron’s early years featured street hockey (with Mom’s muffins as pucks!); he was a goalie for local hockey teams, played high school football, and played slo-pitch into his adult years.  Ron attended Fairview Elementary School, ‘the Comp’ (aka Yorkdale), and Yorkton Regional High School, and Red River College in Winnipeg. Ron met Gaylene Patricia (nee German) in 1984, at a ‘Wish I were in Hawaii’ party hosted by Ron; from there it was a double date with Kathy & Larry Hilworth, and the pair became a ‘dynamic duo’ from then on out. They were married May 17^th 1986, and had two children – Whitney Dawn (husband Carl Merchant; daughter Charlotte Merchant, age 3) who now lives in Sydney, Australia and Ronald Jeffrey (RJ) Skinner (wife Brianna Kohler; daughter Rheia Jane, age 5; son Odin Jon, age 3; daughter Aria Ann Louise, age 1) who now lives in Edmonton, Alberta.  Family was incredibly important to Ron, and he loved nothing more than his role as a proud Dad and proud Grandpa.

Over the years Ron wore many hats – roles in the family business started as an ‘overnight switcher’ at the Shamrock television station in high school, and moved on to advertising sales across the province, Image Cable Systems sales and set-up, as well as climbing the several province wide cable TV towers.

Around the time of his daughter’s arrival in 1988, Ron and family acquired the Realty World franchise in Yorkton, including insurance sales, which began his successful real estate year which would span more than three decades. When the family took on Good Spirit Villas and Golf Course in 1997, in addition to on-going work in real estate, Ron dusted off many additional skills – from chef to groundskeeper and everything in between. Over the years he also volunteered extensively – including President of the Lions Club, founding chair of the Farm & Leisure show, President of the Saskatchewan Real Estate Association, and as an active supporter of many local health, homelessness and environmental causes.

Since his semi-retirement, he has continued to dabble as a real estate consultant, but his primary focus has been mowing and photographing his beautiful backyard lawn looking out over Logan Green at the southeast area of Yorkton. In between mows he regularly enjoyed a round of “Fat Bastard” Saturday golf at Deer Park, or indoor golf Wednesday evenings with his buddies at Bunkers Golf indoor screen.  His other favourite hobby was his cars – his Furious Fuschia Challenger (not pink!), and a 1990 ‘little red Corvette’ that fulfilled a lifelong dream. He also thoroughly enjoyed delicious steaks on the BBQ, singing along to classic rock, watching football and documentaries, and visiting / Facetiming on video calls with his amazing and fully cherished Grandkids.

Ron’s health has been challenging since his first open heart surgery in 1987 – since then at times it seemed like he had nine lives, culminating in a rapid decline of his long-standing congestive heart failure. He passed away peacefully at Jowsey House Palliative Care unit at Anderson Village, YRHC Yorkton, SK on Saturday, April 19, 2025, with wife Gaylene, daughter Whitney and son RJ by his side. He had the biggest heart, and cared deeply for his family, his friends and his community. He will be dearly missed, but his sense of humour, love of music and backyard parties, and deep care for friends and family will live on always in the hearts of those he leaves behind.