KIWANIS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

John Skarda was born and raised on the 20 acre “family compound” well outside of Omaha, Nebraska. A number of family members were involved in the local stockyards and he would join them on key cattle sorting missions as a teen. This association and experience with cattle and pigs stockyards would play a part in his career later in life.

John graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1957 with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a commission as a Lieutenant USAF. He had hoped to be a pilot, but the Air Force did not need any more pilots soon after the Korean military event, so he trained in “supply”. When he arrived in Japan at Ashiya Air Base, they did not need any more supply officers, so with his Industrial Engineering degree, he was offered a position of Assistant Base Engineering Officer, responsible for overseeing all new construction and maintenance projects.

After his military service, John embarked on a career in the Engineering Department of Northern Natural Gas’s Omaha headquarters, where he specialized in cost estimating for new construction projects. Later, he joined Tower Communications, where he played a pivotal role in selling and supervising the installation of microwave tower structures used in television and radio broadcasting across the Southeast and Western USA.

In 1963, John married Darlene Upmann, and together, they founded Skarda Equipment Co., Inc. in 1969. The company’s primary focus was on the sale of engineered industrial, pneumatic, and hydraulic equipment designed for industrial production. A significant part of their business was in the stockyards and large meat processing facilities. Over the years, Skarda Equipment Co., Inc. grew to employ 45 individuals and generated annual sales of $25 million before its sale in 2022.

John and Darlene are blessed with three children and seven grandchildren.

In 1998, John demonstrated his commitment to community service by joining the Carefree Kiwanis organization. This was back long before the Marketplace, when Kiwanis would only hold  quarterly sales out of the Carefree warehouse. He also had a key role in surveying other “donation/resale” businesses statewide and he was instrumental in providing some of the financial analysis recommendations toward the decision-making to buy the Marketplace facility.

He has since dedicated himself to having served on the Kiwanis board for three terms, actively participating in various club committees, including; Funds Request, luncheon speakers, yearbook production, road pickup, STEM initiatives, Salvation Army activities, nominating committees financial planning and budgeting, and fundraising efforts.

Please consider coming to meet John and other Kiwanians from a wide variety of careers and experiences. We have weekly lunches at Harold’s every Wednesday at 11:30. We will look forward to meeting you.