Michael DVM

Dr. Michael Skinner

"Doc"

Age 65 of Wilmington and formerly Joliet, passed away Wednesday May 9, 2012 at the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home.

Born November 19, 1946 in Ottawa, Mike was a son of the late Warren L. and Lois Jankowski-Skinner. He moved with his family to Joliet in 1948 and was a 1965 graduate of Joliet Township High School. Mike continued his education, graduating from Joliet Junior College in 1967; he earned his Bachelors of Science from Northern Illinois University in 1969 and gained his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University in 1978. Dr. Skinner began his veterinary career with his father in Joliet and later moved to Wilmington, where he practiced for more than 25 years. He was a true country vet, who treated all animals and remained on-call 24/7. Doc never turned away an animal at-need for any reason, and will be remembered for his quote: "My charge to you is to have a good day". He was a member the Illinois Society of Veterinary Medicine Association (ISUMA) and the American Veterinary Association (AVA). Dr. Skinner was a past member of the Wilmington Rotary and belonged to the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. Doc loved the time spent on his John Deere tractor tending to his Kankakee River property. In the past he also enjoyed sailing and flying in small aircraft. Doc built and collected model airplanes, played black jack and could often be found playing solitaire and games on the computer. He could almost always be found for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the one local Wilmington restaurant establishments and he truly cherished his cats.

Survivors include "his girls": Shelly Murrell, Chris Sliwski, Kelly Murrell and Jacquie Hambrick; lifelong friends: Pat Gavin and Mike (Sandy) Gavin; great neighbors and friends: Mike, Sue and Mickey Esposito and their family; two brothers: Richard (Patti) Skinner and Fred (Alberta) Skinner; many restaurant and waitress friends throughout the community, his dedicated and loyal clients, their pets, and his own feline companions Tiger and Panther.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday May 17, 2012 between the hours of 4:00PM and 8:00PM at Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)

Preferred memorials may be made to: Doc Skinner's Good Neighbor Policy for Pets in Need, c/o Standard Bank in Wilmington.

Friends may sign the online guest book by logging onto: www.FRBfuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Freitag-Reeves & Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815/476-2181)