LaJuana Skogman

Memorial

LaJuana Paterno Skogman was born November 8, 1922, in Independence, MO to parents Joseph and Ruth Paterno.  She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska with her family and attended Creighton University where she studied Pre-med.

While she was in college, she met LeRoy Skogman when she was 21 years of age.  They eloped on May 9, 1944, In Kansas City, Kansas. From this union they had 5 children Rick, Kyle, Gary, Drew and Dale.

Roy commuted back and forth to Cedar Rapids, IA for the first year and a half of their marriage while working with his father converting government apartments.  In 1945 they moved to Cedar Rapids where they called home for the rest of their lives. 

LaJuana dedicated her life to her family and felt that “there’s nothing better than family”.  She had close relationships with her five children and loved watching all their sports growing up-after all LaJuana herself was voted female athlete of the year of her graduating class! She spoke often about how blessed she was to have such a close relationship with her five children and was so proud of them and their families.

She adored her 14 grandchildren and would never give up an opportunity to host dinners, holidays and vacations to make sure they were all together.  It was a top priority to her that the cousins were close, and she loved to plan any type of events and sleepovers to make that happen.  She was a huge supporter of their activities and loved to go watch them doing what they loved. 

Most recently she enjoyed any opportunity to spend time with her 32 great grandchildren.  She was so good with babies and was always so excited to hear of a new pregnancy.  Naturally she was often seen at their sporting events, and they all thought it was such an honor when their “Mamma” or “Super Mamma” came to watch them.

She was an outstanding cook and would love to have her family over.  Perhaps one of her most popular dishes was her pasta and shells which was a favorite among the kids and the adults.  Her chocolate pie was a staple at all the holidays, and she always had cookies and brownies baked and ready for whenever anyone stopped by.

LaJuana was a member of the First Baptist Church of the Brethren, Cedar Rapids Country Club, PEO, and a volunteer at the Community Health Free Clinic Cedar Rapids.  

A private family memorial service will be held at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories on June 22nd.  LaJuana was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy Skogman; her mother and father; Joseph and Ruth Paterno; her brother, Dale Paterno; and her grandson, Chad Skogman.  She is survived by her son Rick (Marilyn) Skogman; her son Kyle (Susan) Skogman; her son Gary (Robin) Skogman; her son Drew (Jo Ann) Skogman;  her daughter Dale (Rob) Fick; her grandson Chris (Nikki) Skogman; her granddaughter Britt (Barron) Bremner; her grandson Hunter (Tiffany) Skogman; her granddaughter Taylor (Jamie) Barron; her granddaughter Laura Skogman; her granddaughter Sage Skogman; her grandson Erick (Padget) Skogman; her granddaughter Jennifer (Kirby Dreher) Skogman, her grandson Matthew (Jenny) Skogman; her granddaughter Lynsey (Marc) Engels; her granddaughter Kristi (Dave) McFate; her granddaughter Julie (Mike) Martin; and her grandson Ryan (Tayler) Fick and 32 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Community Free Health Clinic Cedar Rapids, Mercy Hospice Cedar Rapids, Salvation Army, or Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund.

The family of LaJuana would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to Krista, Whitney, Fran, Hannah, Heather, Sherry and Rita from The Caregivers for their endless compassion, support and loving care of their mom.  They are forever grateful for the work between The Caregivers, Mercy Hospice, and Cottage Grove Place.