Wayne Bishop Skeem

To view Wayne's 90th Birthday Community Life Celebration Video go to:  https://youtu.be/ana62i5rtjk

To view KMVT's Recap of Wayne's 90th Birthday Celebration go to: https://youtu.be/EvHOlvT4FVc
  

  Wayne Bishop Skeem, a well-known personality in the Magic Valley and Southern Idaho for many decades, passed away peacefully at his Kimberly, Idaho home Nov. 21, 2016 following a recent stroke. He was born in 1923 and had just celebrated his 93rd birthday on November 5. Gratefully, Wayne lived in excellent health until very recently, as exemplified by the fact that he continued to downhill ski and roller-blade into his 80’s.

   Wayne was a playful optimist with an endearing sense of humor. He and his wife Arlene could often be found dancing in the office or at home for no apparent reason, except because she was his sweetheart. One of his most common daily comments was “Isn’t life beautiful?” with a twinkle in his eye. Another phrase he liked was, “Yesterday is the past; Tomorrow is the Future; Today is a Gift (that’s why we call it the Present)!” Humor was an integral part of his personality clear to the very end, and he’d often tease and joke with catchy little stories. For example, “A man who wears an earring is ready for marriage because he’s learned to endure pain and he knows how to buy jewelry!” Here’s another one: “I was excited ‘cause she seemed delighted when I asked her to marry me. I wonder if I pulled a blunder ‘cause now she smiles when we talk of plans to bury me.” He collected and used a supply of clever quips and short stories like this--too many to ever record, but this was part of his charm.

    In July of 2013 a community life celebration was held, in preference to a funeral, in honor of Wayne’s 90th birthday. Community members who wish to view the video recording of this celebration may view it online through the link at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home http://www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com or directly at h"ps://youtu.be/ E1kbf1iJJ4k, thanks to Midnight Productions, which recorded, edited, and posted the event.

    In addition, the Twin Falls Public Library has a copy of his musical memoir “From Boy Band to Elsa’s Procession” in the special collections area. Wayne grew up a farm boy in Hollister and Castleford, Idaho, son of Irene Bishop and Christian Straagaard Skeem. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, and after the war he received a teaching certificate from Albion Teacher’s College. Wayne was innovative in all of his career ?elds: dance band leader/musician, music education, farming, and as a business owner in gated technologies. Older area residents may remember dancing to the music of the youthful Wayne Skeem and the Melody Skeemers whether at the Radio Rondevoo in Twin Falls, Burley’s Y-Del, or various area locations in the late 1930’s-50’s.

   Others may remember him as a dynamic high school band director in Wendell (late 1940’s), Castleford (late 1970’s), Buhl (late 1980’s), or in Carlin and Elko, Nevada (1960’s and ’70’s). His Elko Band of Indians received particular acclaim as an award-winning marching and concert band. In between his music education ventures, Wayne farmed his family’s land near Castleford, Idaho, where he completed negotiations with the Vermeer Manufacturing Company of Pella, Iowa, establishing payment and royalties on his patented Round Bale Feeder. While farming he developed a horn-operated gate which eventually led to the development of more sophisticated automatic gate operators, several patents, and his company Eagle Gate Systems which, until recently, was owned and operated by son Tom.

   Ultimately, his innovation in automatic gate operators led to the development of Siren- Operated Sensors in the 1980’s, which sells products designed to provide emergency access into gated areas without sacrificing security and convenience. The company sells internationally and continues Wayne’s legacy, having been sold to daughter Jill and her husband McKay in 2008.

   Wayne was the proud father of 8 children, three of whom preceded him in death: Lori (1962), Christian (2012), and Susan Skeem Payne (2015). He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Arlene Christensen Skeem from Wendell and 5 children: Dan, Boise; Tom (Jill), Kimberly; Cindra (Terry Eardley), Monticello, Utah; Jill (McKay Lundgren), Buhl; and Rebecca Dixon (Twin Falls), and (Les Payne), Park City. Wayne is also survived by his sister Norma "Peg" Wing (Marvin), Franklin, ID. Wayne and Arlene have 28 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren at this time.

   In lieu of fowers, please donate to the Twin Falls Music Scholarship Foundation, Inc. PO Box 2381, Twin Falls, ID 83301


WAYNE SKEEM’S OBITUARY Written by Wayne himself!

Wayne B. Skeem was born in Inkom, Idaho, to Christian and Irene B. Skeem November 5, 1923. The family moved that year to Hollister. Then, in 1935, the family relocated to Castleford, where during Wayne’s high school years, he organized his Melody Skeemers. For this he became well known in the Magic Valley, playing for hundreds of school proms and Ballroom dances at the Radio Rondevoo in Twin Falls and Burley’s Y-Del.

 After graduating from Castleford in 1941, Skeem attended BYU for 1 1/2 years and then served in World War II, playing trumpet with the FORT ORD Special Service Band. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Southern Idaho College of Education at Albion. His ?rst teaching assignment involved teaching band at Wendell where he taught for three years, the last two of which included the high school principalship. Wayne was instrumental music supervisor at Pocatello High School and then farmed at Castleford a dozen years before returning to his teaching career in New Mexico and later to Elko, Nevada. ! The Elko band program became exemplary and well-respected throughout its ?ve-state music educators conference. His Elko Band’s achievements included: An hour-long feature television program on prime time KSL-TV; Of?cial State of Nevada Marching Band in President Nixon’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.; San Francisco half time feature show for the 49ers; First place marching trophy in Reno among Nevada and northern California schools; Elko’s small ensembles won auditioned appearances for the ?ve-state Music Educators Conferences in Honolulu, San Diego, Tucson, Las Vegas, and San Francisco. Wayne was elected President of the Nevada Music Educators Association in 1975. In the summer of 2000, the Elko Band members honored Skeem with a reunion of his band students from 1967 to 1976.

    Wayne and his multitalented wife, Arlene, returned to the Magic Valley in 1976. Wayne completed negotiations with the Vermeer Manufacturing Company of Pella, Iowa, establishing payment and royalties on Skeem’s patented Round Bale Feeder. They then began developing their patented Lift and Rotate gate operators along with their standard push-pull method. Skeem reentered music education to revitalize the Band program in the Buhl schools.

    During his ?ve-year tenure (1985-1990), Buhl’s “Tuxedo Band with electronic keyboard” and its small ensemble program brought feature recognition in the national “Bands of America” publication and invitations statewide. The Buhl band performed for the State School Boards Association and the State Democratic Convention. The State Music Educators Association also featured the Buhl group at their State Conference at the University of Idaho in Moscow. In 1987, the Buhl Chamber presented its Community Service Award to Skeem and his music program. Wayne would often recall with fondness his special last music teaching years at BHS and his students there.

    Besides helping to raise a happy and honorable family, Wayne had three successful careers: Music Education, Farming, and Innovation. He was holder of several patents, two of which are still in use. He and Arlene developed a thriving business based upon what they saw as a need in their growing Automatic Gate pursuits.

   This latest innovation was designed to provide a “uniform emergency access” into gated areas. The product is microprocessor- based and listens for an emergency “YELP” siren at the gated compound. It digitally processes the sound, and if it is legit, a relay closure will cause the gate to open in 2.5 seconds. Skeem’s Siren-Operated Sensors are in locations all across the nation and beyond. Their use is mandated in many areas of the United States and uniformly so in Florida. ! In 2008, Arlene and Wayne sold this SOS business to McKay and Jill (Skeem) Lundgren. ! Wayne is survived by his wife of ____ years, Arlene. They were married in 1951 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Surviving children include three sons and four daughters: Dan, Salt Lake City; Tom, Twin Falls; Christian, Chicago; Susan (Les Payne), Park City; Cindra (Terry Eardley), Monticello; Jill (McKay Lundgren), Twin Falls; and Rebecca Dixon, AK. ______ grandchildren and _______ great-grandchildren. Surviving sister: Norma Wing. 

One of Wayne and Arlene’s favorite songs, and one of many they harmonized together: Love is the greatest thing,
The oldest, yet the latest thing. What else on earth could ever bring Such happiness to everything.  --Ray Noble

Favorite quotes:  I was excited ‘cause she seemed delighted when I asked her to mary me. I wonder if I pulled a blunder ‘cause now she smiles when we talk of plans to bury me.

Yesterday is the Past; Tomorrow is the Future. Today is a Gift! (That’s why we call it the Present)!

Today, well-lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a brand new opportunity.