David "Dave" William Skaj

A life well-lived came to an end when David William Skaj 68 of Casper, Wyoming passed away January 19, 2025, at Banner Medical Center.

Dave was born in Ashland, Wisconsin to Nicholas and Catherine Skaj. When Dave was 5 years old the family moved to Casper Wy. Dave attended local schools and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1975.

Dave worked in the automotive industry in various jobs throughout his life. He retired from CMI Teco in 2022.

Dave bought his childhood home in Upper Dempsey Acres in 1989. He was a fixture in the neighborhood, you could always find people from the neighborhood hanging out working on cars in his garage. If you ever needed help, Dave was the first person called.

Dave met Tonya, and they wed in June of 2001. They were married for 9 years until her untimely passing in 2010. He then met Bobbie Arthur, and they were together for many years until his death.

Dave enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and all things racing or tinkering with anything motorized.

One of his earliest jobs, with DCB Auto, was when they started racing cars at the local tracks. They were known for dominating wherever they went, implementing some "competitive" advantages, bending the rules. They were very good at leaving the track in record time after a race.

Dave took being the oldest very seriously and taught his siblings many life lessons such as, you will live when you get the wind knocked out of you after flying off a dirt bike, teaching them how to ride dirt bikes, turning a car hood into a sled, how laugh in the face of danger. He took on the responsibility of teaching his younger brother to drive and couldn't stop laughing when that said brother lost control for the first time. If you saw Dave smiling, you knew everything was going to be ok.

He used to give his younger sister rides to school so she didn't have to ride the bus, they would spend time together before school listening to their favorite songs on the radio. He was never too cool to hang out with his younger siblings.

His younger brothers got into racecars and demolition derbies by watching Dave compete. Dave never missed his little brother's demolition derbies, mud bogs, and car shows. He never missed an opportunity to show up and support their hobbies and passions.

Dave was a kind, soft-hearted man who will be greatly missed by all who knew him. 

Dave was predeceased by his wife Tonya, father Nicholas, and brothers Nick, Mike and Steve. He is survived by his mother Catherine, sisters Donna, Theresa (Steve), Nancy (Dell) and Mary (Ron), his brother Joe (Kaylene), longtime girlfriend Bobbie and numerous nieces, nephews and
great nieces and nephews.

Family, friends and others whose lives Dave touched are invited to his services, held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, February 1, 2025, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church 400 Country Club Road in Casper. Reception to follow at The Commons at St. Patrick's. 

To share a memory of David or leave a special message for the family, please visit the guestbook below.