Gwendolyn "Gwen" Skalsky

Gwen Skalsky of Forest Lake passed away peacefully Monday, March 6, 2023 at Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake at the age of 76.

Gwendolyn Bonneville was born January 21, 1947 to Rolland and Gena (Phillips) Bonneville in Gordo, Alabama. Gwen was
the oldest of three children; she had two brothers Butch and Jim.

The family moved to Silver Bay in 1956 and Gwen met the neighbor across the street Michael “Mick” Skalsky. Gwen and Mick grew up together and officially started dating the end of May in 1964. They were married on January 28, 1967, in Silver Bay and together they had four children – Mike, Kevin, Teri and Mary.

Gwen and Mick moved to Rush City in 1971 where they raised their four children. Gwen was an LPN for 15 years, worked at Hillcrest Nursing Home and worked as a paraprofessional at the Forest Lake High School. Gwen was very involved in her grandchildren’s extracurricular activities. She loved to take pictures and was an avid scrapbooker. Gwen loved to walk her dog Chelsea up to get the mail every day and then stop at the library to get a new book. She loved to read and bought many books, all of which were donated to the Rush City Library once she finished them.

Gwen and Mick retired in 2009 and especially enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren. Together they made many trips to the hunting shack, some of the time to go deer hunting and others to make repairs. They made numerous fishing and camping trips both in Minnesota and Canada. Gwen and Mick, along with their children and grandchildren took multiple trips to Fisher’s Resort on Lake Mille Lacs. Gwen and Mick charted a houseboat for a week on the Rainy River camping and fishing at various locations and took a trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota.

Gwen moved into her assisted living apartment at the Arbors in Forest Lake in October of 2022. She quickly made friends and spent hours putting puzzles together, going to bingo, making dinner for her friends, or visiting with her children and grandchildren at her new place.

Gwen is survived by her children Mike (Connie) Skalsky of Rush City, Kevin (Marlene) Skalsky of Forest Lake, Teri Pierce (Eric Heining) of Chaska, Mary (Steve) Ratz of Becker; grandchildren Gillian, David, Madison, Lauren, Colin, Jamie, Gavin, Joshua, Quinn; brothers Butch Bonneville of Aitkin, Jim Bonneville of Chisholm.

She was preceded in death by her parents Rolland and Gena Bonneville; husband Mick Skalsky.

Funeral services for Gwen: 1 PM; Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Olson Funeral Chapel in Rush City. A gathering of family and friends is planned for 2 hours prior to the service. The interment will take place in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Rush City.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com