Steven D. Skannes Dies; Longtime Sitkan was 70
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- Created on Thursday, 25 April 2024 13:45
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Steven Daine Skannes
Steven Daine Skannes, who lived most of his life in Sitka, passed away unexpectedly March 25 in Bellingham, Washington, at the age of 70.
Steve was born in Sitka on January 20, 1954. For a couple of years in the mid-1960s the family lived in Kirkland, Washington, but returned to Sitka, and Steve graduated from Sitka High School in 1972.
From a young age, Steve loved spending time outdoors, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmachining and hiking.
He got his first boat at age 9 and owned several others over the years. He was a hard worker and followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined the family business, Crescent Plumbing and Heating.
He, along with his brother John, helped grow that business, which was very successful.
Steve met Pattie in 1978, when she moved to Sitka from Wisconsin to begin a career with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and joined the Crescent Plumbing women’s softball team. They were married in October 1979 and had many adventures over the next 44 years.
Steve and Pattie retired in 2017 and moved to Birch Bay, Washington, where they bought a house in a wonderful neighborhood near the ocean. They enjoyed many good times with family and the new friends they made there. Steve enjoyed some new activities including golfing, bowling, swimming, canning and baking goodies for neighborhood children.
He was a devoted dog-dad to several lucky pups that were part of his life. He volunteered at The Bridge Community Hope Center in Birch Bay, offering help with their food bank program and building maintenance.
Steve was generous with his time and talents. He had a dry sense of humor, a memorable smile and laugh, and was a loyal friend to those he was close to. Steve was someone who many turned to when they needed help, advice or someone to simply listen to their concerns.
His children and grandson brought him great joy. Steve was a loving father, grandfather, husband, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife Pattie, son Jason Skannes, daughter Marie Skanis and husband Eddy Hix, grandson Liam Skannes, brother John Skannes and his wife Joan, his Aunt Pat Martin, his cousin Gary Atkinson and wife Shelly, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father George Skannes Jr., his mother, Rose Elliott, sister Georgia Skannes, as well as grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration of his life will be held this summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s name can be made to www.thebridgehope.com.
Thanks to the generosity and expertise of the the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska broadband department, Tidal Network ; Christopher Cropley, director of Tidal Network; and Luke Johnson, Tidal Network technician, SitkaSentinel.com is again being updated. Tidal Network has been working tirelessly to install Starlink satellite equipment for city and other critical institutions, including the Sentinel, following the sudden breakage of GCI's fiberoptic cable on August 29, which left most of Sitka without internet or phone connections. CCTHITA's public-spirited response to the emergency is inspiring.
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