5 NOVEMBER 1962 - 9 JANUARY 2022

A beautiful soul winged his way to heaven early Sunday morning, January 9, 2022.   Our beloved father, grandfather, brother, loyal friend, and trusted colleague, Mark David Skindlov, 59, unexpectedly left this world from a non-COVID related medical condition. He now rests in the arms of our Lord.  At Dad’s dedication to Christ during his Confirmation at Central Lutheran Church, Spokane, WA., he chose Psalms 18:7 as his ‘Life Verse:’ The Lord is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusts and he helps me. . .

Born and raised in Spokane, Dad always dreamed of being a policeman.  After graduating from Spokane’s Joel E. Ferris High School in ’81, he enrolled in Spokane Community College and received his Associate Arts degree in Criminal Justice. He never veered from his goal and in 1986, Mark spent a year working for Bonner County Sheriff’s Department and then spent the next thirty-three years as a Deputy Sheriff with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department, retiring December 18, 2020. 

Dad was a funny man who enjoyed visiting, making friends, and sharing his jokes with others, but his world revolved around us: Gunnar, 25; Konar, 23; and Erika, 20. He attended all of our school meetings, ceremonies, and athletic events. Dad was very vocal in his support and he wasn’t hard to find whether in a basketball gym, at the softball/baseball field, or standing at the myriad of soccer fields where we all played. One just had to wait, listen, and there for everyone floating on the wind was a recognizable sound. . . Dad cheering. He was the ultimate ‘Soccer Dad.’  When we started playing soccer, he didn’t know a corner kick from a direct kick or what off-sides meant, but that didn’t stop him from loudly voicing his opinion. We laugh not certain he knew much more now than he did then, but that never stopped his unconditional support.

Knowing Dad, you knew that everything was saved and recyclable—from sippy-cups to soda can tabs to newspapers. . . He was ‘green’ before his time. Dad loved slapstick movies; Animal House was a favorite. He’d watched it so many times that he could quote dialogue, but still he laughed. Dad also enjoyed Space movies/series, such as Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, plus ‘shoot 'em up’ old westerns. Probably the biggest surprise to all, is that Dad was a reader. He owned and read just about every book that his favorite author, J. A. Vance, wrote—sometimes reading them more than once. It was well known that he was a San Francisco sports’ fan. The Forty-Niners and the Giants were his teams—even during their lean years. Most importantly, Dad was devoted to the law enforcement community, especially those with whom he worked. He attended their weddings, retirements and other major events because he truly felt they were his second family, and family needed to be there for each other.

Dad’s wonderful life will forever be cherished by those who loved him; His children: Gunnar David Skindlov, Konar Blake Skindlov, Erika Janae Skindlov, Autumn Brewington Nielsen (Jake Cosmos Nielsen) and grandson, Beau Cosmos Nielsen; his sister, Mary Skindlov Poland (Chris); brother, Paul Allen Skindlov (Mary); faithful German Shepherd Apollo; numerous cousins and beloved friends. Dad was preceded in death by his father, David Oliver Skindlov; mother, Jane Childress Skindlov; paternal grandparents, Bishop Andrus Mathias and Olea Bjorneby Skindlov; maternal grandparents, Zackiark Blakemore and Pauline Rachel Childress.

Please join us for a Memorial Gathering at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. 4th St., Coeur d’Alene, ID, on Friday, February 4, 2022, anytime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., to honor our Dad and share memories of his life. A private family service will be held prior to the Memorial Gathering. This family service will be streamed live via English Funeral Chapel’s Facebook page at 4 p.m. Dad’s final resting place will be with his father and grandparents in Conrad Memorial Cemetery, Kalispell, Montana.

Being mindful of the health and safety of everyone attending the Memorial Gathering, masks and social distancing are highly recommended.

We graciously ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the non-profit Kootenai County Policemen and Fireman Memorial Association, P. O. Box 1748, Hayden, ID 83835 in Mark Skindlov’s name.

https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23854495/mark-david-skindlov