Martin Paul Skip Skandera, age 63 of Herkimer passed away on Friday morning January 15, 2016 in Valley Health Services, Inc. He had the support and comfort of his loving and devoted wife at his side. He was born on February 3, 1952 in Herkimer, son of the late Martin and Victoria Unczer Skandera. A lifelong area resident he was a graduate of Herkimer High School, class of 1970. He furthered his education at Herkimer County Community College and went on to graduate from SUNY IT achieving a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. On May 13, 1995 he was united in marriage with the former Claudia Anne Brown in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Reverend Fred Kopp officiating. They recently celebrated their 20th anniversary on an Alaskan cruise, taking a helicopter ride and walking on Herbert Glacier. For eighteen years he was employed as a machinist with the Remington Arms Company in Ilion. He retired in 2007. Mr. Skandera was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Herkimer. He was a twenty year member of Herkimer Elks Lodge # 1439., where he served as Exalted Ruler two times, was All American Leading Knight and currently a Trustee on the Board of Directors. Skip and Claudia enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. with the Elks Ritual Team and cruising the Caribbean with the Crusty Cruisers. He was an avid golfer, playing in three leagues and Secretary of the Tuesday afternoon league. He will be greatly missed by his long-time golf partner, Chuck Tolman. He also found much relaxation in puttering around with woodworking and most recently helping his son, Martin work on the flip house. He loved his outdoor time away at their camp on Piseco Lake where he would play cards with the Piseco group and take his grandson, Dylan out fishing. Skip was delighted to make trips with his wife Claudia to different casinos for a night of gambling. To those who knew him they will never forget a fun loving, kind, sincere and dedicated man with a great sense of humor who conveyed his warmth and friendship whenever you were with him. He will be sadly missed. Surviving are his devoted wife of twenty years Claudia, two sons, Martin P. Skandera II and his wife Theresa of Ilion, William George Jaquish of Herkimer, three daughters, Rebecca Perlmutter and her husband Nick of VT, Amanda Gebhardt and her husband Steve of Fort Plain, Susan Marie Jaquish of Herkimer, his uncle, Thomas Skandera and his wife Marge of Herkimer, four grandchildren, Dylan Skandera, Marty Skandera, Tommy Skandera and Aubrey Gebhardt, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his brother Milton Bouchard in 1986. Calling hours for Mr. Skandera will be on Tuesday from 3:00 until 6:00 pm in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street; Herkimer. A funeral service will follow immediately after in the funeral home at 6:00 pm. Pastor Al Monfil, Skips lifelong friend will officiate. Members of Herkimer Lodge # 1439 B.P.O.E. are asked to assemble at 5:45 pm in the funeral home for ritualistic services. Memorial donations may be made to the Herkimer Elks Lodge #1439 Social Community Welfare Fund, 124 Mary Street; Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Calling Hours Fenner Funeral Home Tuesday, January 19, 2016 03:00 AM - 06:00 PM 115 Court Street Herkimer, NY 13350 Elks Ritual Service Fenner Funeral Home Tuesday, January 19, 2016 05:45 PM 115 Court Street Herkimer, NY 13350 Funeral Service Fenner Funeral Home Tuesday, January 19, 2016 06:00 PM 115 Court Street Herkimer, NY 13350