Ermond "Skip" LeRoy Kohoutek

Ermond L. "Skip" Kohoutek, 81, of Oelwein, Iowa died on Wednesday morning, December 2, 2009 at Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein, Iowa

Memorial Service: 11:00 A.M. on Monday, December 7, 2009 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein, Iowa; Officiating: Rev. Darwin Moore; There will be no visitation; Skip has donated his body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program for the advancement of medical science. Inurnment will be at a later date; Military Rites will be conducted by Ross Reid American Legion Post # 9 of Oelwein, Iowa
Arrangements by Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa

A Memorial fund has been established in his name

Online Obituary at: www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Skip is survived by: Wife--Marlen Kohoutek of Oelwein, Iowa
Son and Daughter-in-law--James and Valorie Kohoutek and grandchildren Zoe, Christian, and Zachary all of Mission, Kansas
2 Sisters--Eleanor (husband-Robert) Marum of Kirkland, Washington and Judy (husband-James) Andrews of Marengo, Illinois
Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins

He was preceded in death by his father, James in 1968, his mother Ann Harkness in 2000, his step-father, James Harkness in 1975 and his brother Raymond in 1993.

Ermond LeRoy Kohoutek was born on January 17, 1928 in Max, North Dakota, the second son of James Peter Kohoutek and Ann Pauline Krueger Kohoutek. He grew up in Minot, North Dakota. At age six he began singing hymns on the radio on Sunday mornings, beginning a singing career that lasted all of his life. He was educated in the Minot Public Schools, Indiana State University, and Minot State Teachers College (now Minot State University). His singing career took him to New York City, where he was featured soloist at Temple Emmanuel, Riverside Cathedral, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, and had roles in Off Broadway productions. He also performed in Summer Stock at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. His work history includes a refinery in Montana, railroad switch yards in Minot, North Dakota, project director for Consumer Research at Young and Rubicam Advertising Agency in New York City (including a stint in Paris, France), and salesman/manager with Combined Insurance Company of America.

When he turned 17, Skip dropped out of high school in his junior year to enlist in the Navy, where he trained as a medical corpsman. His unit prepared to go onshore with the Marines during the invasion of Japan. The war ended before the invasion took place.

On February 17, 1973, Skip married Marlen Axmark in a country church near Mayville, North Dakota. Career responsibilities necessitated twelve moves in four years until the family settled in Oelwein, Iowa in 1977, where they have remained. Skip was a member of Phi Sigma Pi Fraternity, Actors Equity, Elks Club, American Legion Ross Reid Post # 9, Grace United Methodist Church, Chancel Choir, and the Camarata Singers of Northeast Iowa.