Constance Skalicky, 81, Owatonna

Constance “Connie” Dee Skalicky, 81, of Owatonna, peacefully passed away on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, just hours after being placed on hospice.

Memorial Mass will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 512 S. Elm Ave., Owatonna. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the funeral at the church. A Catholic Daughters of the Americas rosary will be recited at 10 a.m.

Connie was born on Sept. 8, 1943, to Dallas James and Viola Catherine (Disch) Laird in Mankato. She attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School and graduated from Mankato High School in 1963. She worked for the telephone company and went to school before deciding to move to Owatonna.

Once in Owatonna, she worked for Federated Insurance and met the love of her life, James “Jim” Skalicky. They were married on Jan. 20, 1968. Their marriage was blessed with three sons: Troy, Brent and Kevin.

Connie worked for Wenger Corporation in the sales division until her retirement. She then was very active volunteering in the community. She volunteered at the Pink Pantry in the Owatonna Hospital, with the American Red Cross organizing Steele County blood drives, and at St. Mary’s Catholic School. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and was a cleaning Martha and a Sacristan at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Jim and Connie were also members of a “Card Club” for over 40 years and have many cherished memories with other couples through the years. Connie was a member of the Steele County Garden Club and was a 4-H Leader when the boys were young. She also enjoyed sewing, flower gardening, knitting, crocheting, baking and shopping. She loved going to any sporting events of her granddaughters.

Connie is survived by her husband, of 57 years, Jim; her three sons: Troy (Anne) Skalicky of Owatonna, Brent (Sarah) Skalicky of Centerville, and Kevin (Rebecca) Skalicky of Owatonna; and her granddaughters: Katie (Pat) Riesch of Colgate, Wis., Nicole Skalicky of LaCrosse, Grace, Madelyn and Megan Skalicky of Centerville, and Brooke Skalicky of Owatonna.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dallas and Viola Laird; and siblings Sandra Middleton, Maureen Laird, and Patrick Laird. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s School or St. Joseph Catholic Church, both in Owatonna.

For more information or to leave an online condolence message, please go to www.megercares.com.