March 24, 1940 – January 16, 2026
Joseph Earl Mathias Skala, age 85, died January 16, 2026. Joe was born March 24, 1940, in Highland Park, IL to Mathias and Orba (Sandnas) Skala. He attended Immaculate Conception School in Highland Park through 8th grade and graduated in 1958 from St. Norbert High School in DePere, WI where he was a boarding student. After attending one year at the University of IL Champaign, he returned to Highland Park to work as a greenskeeper at Northmoor Country Club and enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserves, serving for five years. He married Carol Lynne Griese in 1961 in Kimberly, WI. In 1964 they moved to Ely and purchased Squaw Bay Resort on Fall Lake. Over the years, they made lifelong friends of the staff that helped them along with the many guests they served. Following the USFS buyout of the resort in 1982, Joe and Carol built a new home and rented cabins until 2022.
Joe supported the tourism industry as past president of the Ely Chamber of Commerce and the MN Arrowhead Association. He was a 47-year member of the Lake County Planning Commission serving as planning commissioner and occasional board chair. He was an active member of the Ely Golf Club, where he served as president and played in both the senior men’s and commercial leagues into his early 80s. He was an avid bush pilot and enjoyed fishing, trap shooting and hunting.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Frank, and beloved wife Carol. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his three daughters, Vicky (Paul) Cherne of Shoreview, MN, Valerie (Bob) Walker of Elburn, IL, and Sarah (Stephen Brandt) Skala of Ely; three grandchildren, Anthony (McKenzie) Cherne, Mary (Garett) Schoenfelder, and John Cherne; and greatgranddaughter, Greta Schoenfelder.
Many thanks to the caring staff at Essentia Ely Clinic and Essentia East Range Hospice.
Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely Friday, February 27 at 11 am with visitation starting at 10 am. Luncheon following. Inurnment at Ely Cemetery in the spring. Memorials preferred to St. Anthony’s or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home, Ely.
