Joel Skillings, left, hands Minneota librarian Gail Perrizo a check to purchase children's books in a tribute to his late wife Jackie.

Jackie Skillings to be honored thru reading

Family donated money to local library for purchasing children's books in her name

On behalf of Jackie Skillings, who passed away unexpectedly this past May, Joel Skillings and his three children, sons Tanner and Christian, and daughter Ashley Oistad, recently gave a generous monetary gift to the Minneota Public Library.
Jackie had been a Friends of the Library board member for several years.
"She loved to read to our kids and the kids at school," said Joel, who presented librarian Gail Perrizo with an $800 check. "She always read to our kids and they are all avid readers now."
Jackie was a first and second grade teacher for many years at St. Edward School in Minneota.
"She especially liked to read the (Laura Ingalls Wilder) Little House on the Prairie books," Joel noted. "She really liked those."
Joel and his children talked about doing something in remembrance of their wife and mother, respectively.
"This is definitely something she would have wanted," said Joel, referring to the donation that will be used to purchase various children's book at the library. "It's a nice tribute to her. She was in charge of ordering the children's books at the library. The money is to purchase children's books for the kids to continue to enjoy reading."
None of the Skillings children live nearby. Tanner lives in New Zealand and is a Development Manager of Humanities. Christian lives in Shanghai, China and teaches at the Britannica International School. Ashley lives with her husband Joshua and their 3-year-old daughter, Aria, in Mankato.
"We talk every day at 6 p.m.," Joel said. "Because of all the time differences, it works out at that time. We never miss a day. The kids want to make sure I'm doing okay and I want to make sure they are doing okay."
As Joel spoke about his late wife during a visit at the library on Saturday, tears welled in his eyes as he told that her 59th birthday was Sunday (Nov. 22) and the following day marked the six-month anniversary of her passing.
"The library board discussed the donation in memory of Jackie Skillings," said Perrizo. "With every children's book that we purchase with the donated money, we intend to put a name inside the front cover saying that it was given in her memory."
"Joel had mentioned to me that Jackie especially liked good quality books like the Caldecott Award winners, so we will keep that in mind when we purchase new children's books."

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