Skip Doede

Date of Birth

Aug 06,1946

Date of Death

Sep 12,2008

ROGER "Skip" DOEDEAge 62,of Elburn, passed away at his home, Friday, September 12, 2008. Surrounded by his loving family, Skip was released in peace from his courageous, life-long battle with cancer. BORN / EARLY YEARSSkip was born August 6, 1946 in Aurora, IL the son of William and Virginia (Rolph) Doede. He grew up in Yorkville where cancer first visited him as Hodgkin’s disease at the age of twelve.Doctors were grim but Skip was positive and proved them wrong. He went on to graduate from Yorkville High School with the class of 1964 and attended Joliet Junior College.Skip was a natural mechanic and began working on cars, pumping gas in his early teens. His first job was at a Chevrolet dealership in Yorkville, followed soon by a job at Bud Hayden’s Standard Oil Gas Station. Skip always said this was his best break because he learned from the best – Bobbie Green. MARRIAGE & FAMILYOne day when Cindy Vial drove in, he took the opportunity to ask her out to the drag strip on Sunday. It was the first of many drag strip dates but on March 11, 1967 they were wed. They settled in Yorkville and were blessed with two children, Doug and Lisa. Through the years that followed, Skip continued to work as a mechanic and for a time as an industrial design and manufacturing engineer. In 1975 he returned to auto mechanics and opened Skip’s Auto in Bristol, IL But his dream was interrupted once again when Hodgkin’s Disease returned. Once again, Skip was positive and overcame the odds. His dream on hold, Skip took a job with a conveyor manufacturing firm in Huntley. Soon afterward, he and the family moved to Elburn. Through it all, Skip kept his dream alive as he crewed for a couple of friends in the SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) He and Kevin Cooper built the "Coo-Doe" a custom racing sports car and Skip also began crewing for Dieter Griesinger. The racing was exciting, but at home in his garage, Skip’s deepest dream came to life again as he began restoring vintage autos. He was every collector’s dream mechanic and restoration artist. Detailed, determined and patient with the pain staking process of award winning restorationsWhen cancer came again in 2005 and they told him that only 5% survive, he said – "then why not me" – and he fought until he was again cancer free. Although it would return one last time in 2008, Skip said that he got fifty more years of living than his childhood doctors predicted and perhaps with that thought, he passed away with a smile on his face.. Beyond positive, beyond determined, his family and friends will remember and honor his honesty, his work ethic, his devotion to family and his determination to live with a sense of humor that would leave loved one’s laughing through their tears.SURVIVORS In addition to his devoted wife, Cindy, he is survived by two children:Doug Doede of Tempe, AZLisa (Bob) Drabek of Mesa, AZFive grandchildren: DustinDillonKyleKristenKonnerHis mother – Virginia Doede of Yorkville, ILFive siblings and their families:Sue Disbrow of Toledo, OHPat (John) Jackson of Elgin, ILMary (Jim) Connolly of Westmont, ILPhyllis Armbruster of Yorkville, IL andRick Doede Lisle, ILMany nieces and nephews and a family of customers and friends.PRECEDED He joins now his father William Doede who preceded him in death in 2007 and his maternal grandparents, Milo and Ethyl Kiltz. VISITATION / FUNERAL Memorial visitation will be held Sunday, September 14, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn from 1 pm to 4 pm. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 4:30 pm. The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Dire, pastor of the Community Church, Elburn, will officiate. Following cremation, private family committal services will later be held. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Roger’s name to benefit the American Cancer Society and other favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the "Skip" Doede Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information cal l630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.

MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Roger’s name to benefit the American Cancer Society and other favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the "Skip" Doede Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information cal l630-365-6414 or 800-8-CONLEY.

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