Milton Victor ‘Skip’ Jochums Jr.

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(April 27, 1939 - April 17, 2015)

Milton Victor Jochums Jr., loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, died on April 17, 2015, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Montana. He was 75.

“Skip,” as all his friends and family called him, went to be with the Lord after his battle with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ended with acute respiratory failure.

Skip was born on April 27, 1939, to Milton Jochums Sr. and Helen Lohmare. Skip was the first of three children. Skip’s siblings are Brenda Jochums/Slez of Westford, Massachusetts, and Jeff Jochums of Canton, Illinois.

After graduating from East Peoria Community High School in 1957, he enlisted in the United States Army. In 1960, after the Army enlistment was over, Skip worked at welding jobs until he was hired by Caterpillar Tractor Company.

Skip was married and divorced from Joanne Young. They had three children: Andrew Scott Jochums of Manito, Illinois, Matthew Victor Jochums of Xenia, Illinois, and Heather Lee Martin of Creve Coeur, Illinois.

Skip moved to Cody, Wyoming 25 years ago where he later became divorced from his second wife. He loved the mountains, clear streams, and lakes that Cody offered. Skip rode horses and hunted much of his early years in Wyoming. He also performed gunsmith jobs for his friends and local shooting clientele associated with the Cody Shooting Complex where he was an active member.

As he grew older and his keen eyesight began to wane, he pursued more fishing opportunities and spent much of his time with his dogs. He had two special canine companions, Hank and Samie.

Skip was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his children Andrew Jochums, Matthew and Therese Jochums, and Heather and Bob Martin; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 9, at Ballard Funeral Home.

The family will have a private gathering after the memorial service in the mountains that Skip held dear to his heart.

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