Hildegard U (Schueder) Skelley

Hildegard “Hilde” U. Skelley, 89, of Coshocton, Ohio passed away Friday, November 30, 2018 at Genesis Hospital in Zanesville.

Hilde was born in Neustrelitz Mecklenburg, Germany on September 13, 1929 to the late Erich and Gertrude (Prasse) Schueder.  She graduated from Lyzeum High School in Karlsruhe, Germany and went on to graduate from nursing school in Germany.  Hilde was a Pediatric Nurse in Germany when she met her future husband, Wendell Skelley, who was serving in the U. S. Army. They married in Frankfurt, Germany and moved to the U. S. where she became a mother of ten and homemaker.  Following the death of her husband on January 4, 1971, she worked and retired from the Coshocton County Auditor's Office.  She was a volunteer for the Pink Lady Auxiliary of Coshocton County Regional Medical Center for many years accumulating over 10,000 hours of service.  She contributed to the staff of the Hope Clinic with her homemade soups.  She enjoyed sewing and knitting, creating many one of a kind pieces.  She loved cooking and baking for her family and friends.  She enjoyed swimming and water aerobics.

Hilde is survived by her children Monica (Dr. Greg) Moore of Pensacola, FL;  Wendell (Laurie) Skelley of Canton, Julie (Bill) Dabbelt of Bonita Springs, FL; Rene Adams of Coshocton; Erich (Rachel) Skelley of Coshocton, Matthew (Beth Bennett) Skelley of Chapin, SC; Andrea (Curt) Clark of Chapin, SC; Patrick (Natalie) Skelley of Cambridge; and Stephanie (Larry) Lepard of Grove City; 25 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; more on the way; and a sister Erika Holzbach of Germany.

Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son Jeff; and her brother Guenther Schueder.

Friends may call at The Miller Funeral Home, 639 Main St., Coshocton on Monday December 3, 2018 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.  Funeral services for Hilde will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday beginning at 11:00am. Erich Skelley will be officiating. Interment will follow in South Lawn Cemetery. 

The Wendell & Hilde Skelley Memorial Fund

With the recent passing of Hilde Skelley on Nov 30, her 9 children are creating a memorial fund to help the people of Coshocton County where the family has resided since the 1960’s.

Hilde was born in Neutrelitz, Germany on September 13, 1929. She graduated from Lyzeum High School in Karlsruhe, Germany and went on to graduate from nursing school in Germany.  Hilde was a pediatric nurse in Germany when she met her future husband, Wendell Skelley, who was serving in the US Army. After his service Wendell attended Penn State while raising a family. Following Wendell’s graduation from Penn State, they moved to Coshocton, Ohio where Wendell worked at Universal Cyclops (AK Steel). Wendell was a very good-hearted, honest, and hard-working man with great family values. He was the kind of person the world needs to exemplify for future generations of Americans. 

Hilde overcame obstacles her entire life, from hardships of WWII as a teenager, to the loss of the family business and home to the Russian Government

Her transition of living in the US was not an easy one. When Wendell passed away quite suddenly at age 40 and left 10 children behind, Hilde did a remarkable job caring for, feeding, and educating all the children with limited financial resources and very little help from anyone. She had a fight with cancer two years ago at age 87, when she was diagnosed with Lymphoma. The Hilde Skelley story is one of putting others before yourself, of never giving in to difficult times that life presents, and of living a good life by leading by example. 

The Wendell & Hilde Skelley Memorial Fund will benefit the citizens of Coshocton County. The family intends to work with the Coshocton Foundation to help with the disbursement of the funds.  Please visit their website www.coshoctonfoundation.org to learn more about the work they do for the community.

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