Joseph Lee Skvarenina

Joseph Lee Skvarenina, 77, Greenfield, was born on February 26, 1948, in Canton, Ohio, to Joseph Emil and Marjorie Helen (Halther) Skvarenina. Joe passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Joe earned both his Bachelors and Masters from Kent State University. Joe was a professional fundraiser at the Center for Leadership Development in Indianapolis as well as the official Hancock County Historian (since 1991), President of the Hancock Historical Society, Vice President of the Riley Old Home Society, and board member of the Shirley Historical Society. He was elected to serve on the Hancock County Council 2012-2015, Center Township Advisory Board 2010-2012, Greenfield City Council 2016-2023, and additionally served as a Mortgage Facilitator for Hancock Circuit and Superior 1 Courts 2010-passing.

Joe wrote a great deal on Hancock County and Indiana history, including Black History Notes and Traces, and a column on local history for the local newspapers since 1978. He participated in many local festivals and led presentations at Leadership Hancock County and for the Indiana Historical Society's speaker's bureau.

He grew up hunting arrowheads and collecting stamps with his dad, fueling his passion for history. Joe collected history books and was proud of the expansive library he had accumulated over the years. His passion for history funneled into education. He earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education (with emphases in history, government, and geography) and his master's degree in educational administration. He also was a commissioned minister in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Joe kept busy and enjoyed teaching his students. In his spare time, he was an adjunct professor at Concordia University, Oakland University, and Ivy Tech Community College. He taught courses in historical methods, world history, cross-cultural studies, writing, and literature. Joe was very interested in his Czechoslovakia genealogy.

If one knew Joe, you knew he always had sharp ironic comments, if you liked it or not.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Leigh Ann Dickey of Limerick, PA; stepson, Troy Roberts of Greenfield; grandchildren, Cierra, Calla, and Brayden Dickey; step-grandchildren, Zane, Jacob, Dean, and Tate Roberts; cousin, Donna Skvarenina of Ohio; and his beloved dog, Turk.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Katherine Skvarenina and his beloved wife, Cheryl.

One of Joe's last acts of giving was becoming an organ and tissue donor via Indiana Donor Network.

Thank you to Thomas Lopez, Judge Scott Sirk, Greg Roland, and to the many others who have assisted Joe and his family in this time of need.

A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Stillinger Family Funeral Home, 1780 West Main Street, Greenfield. A memorial service will be held the following day on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Faith Lutheran Church, 200 West McKenzie Road, Greenfield, with Reverend William Daniel O'Connor officiating. Inurnment will follow in Park Cemetery, Greenfield. Following inurnment, there will be food and fellowship at the church for those that attended Joe's service.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hancock County Library and/or Great Samaritan Orphanage in Haiti, c/o World Renewal, P.O. Box 399, Greenfield. If you would like to sign the online guest book or send condolences to the family, you may do so by visiting www.stillingerfamily.com

Joe always singed off his articles of work….. "Enough, I have told you everything I know and some things I don't."