Janet Skalko

Mass of Christian Burial for Janet Skalko, 93, of Gilbert will be 10:30 am Thursday, April 7, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Charles Flynn celebrating. Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass at the church. Interment will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Janet Skalko passed away peacefully on March 31, 2016 at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth. Janet was born to Mark and Marija (Yerina) Menart on December 23, 1922 in Logatec, Slovenia. She was the eighth of ten children born to her parents. When Janet was a young girl, her mother passed away. At the age of 14, Janet was sent to the United States (by herself) to Eveleth, MN to live with her aunt and uncle, Helen and John Repar. On September 24, 1945, she married Frank Skalko in Eveleth. They made their home in Sparta location and then Gilbert, and together raised four children. She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, Duluth, Hendrickson’s Bakery, Eveleth, and retired after 20 years from the Arrowhead Nursing Home in Virginia. Janet loved to garden and was a wonderful cook. She enjoyed spending time with her family and fishing at the cabin. Janet will be fondly remembered by her family and friends for her grace and warmth and lifting the spirits of those who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank, her son-in-law, Martin Paavola and all her siblings Ciril, Tina, Matevz, Metod, Mitzi, Marjeta, Francka, Marko and an infant girl. She is survived by her children, John (Christine) Skalko, Dr. Frank (Marie) Skalko, Janet Paavola and Gene Skalko; 11 grandchildren: Christine Skalko, John Mark Skalko, Teresa (Steven) Lipinski, Christine (Clay) Ward , Dr. Kathleen Skalko (Robert Kenowski), Elizabeth (Sean) Andrews, Martin (Allison) Paavola, Matt (Rachel) Paavola, Jean Paavola (Alec Boutin), Emily (Joseph) Alston and Garrett Skalko; and 9 great grandchildren. Janet was loved by many and will be missed by all. The family would like to express special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Edgewood Vista, Marywood Assisted Living/Benedictine Health Center and Solvay Hospice House in Duluth.