Norman O. Skare of Weston, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2020, at Rennes Health & Rehab Center of Weston.  He was born on February 21, 1928, in Merrill, Wisconsin.  He is the son of Olaf B. Skare and Amelia (Stevenson) Skare.  He met his beautiful wife, Betty (Betz)  M. (Galipeau) Skare, while setting pins at her family-owned Gold Arrow Lanes in Merrill while they were just teenagers.  Norman joined the Navy as a junior in high school and Betz waited for him to come home. They were married the year after on October 7, 1947 in Merrill.  Betz passed away on July 1, 2015.  They were married 68 years.  The Lord blessed them with 9 children.  Norm is survived by: Tom and (Joyce) Skare, Sue and (Wayne) Pagryzinski, Don and (Denise) Skare, Ray and (Terri) Skare, Debra and (Joe) Smith, 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-granddaughter.  He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, 4 of his children: Michael, Joseph, Mary and Ellen, a grandson, Jeff Skare, a brother, Edward Skare, and his sisters Marian Skare, Anna Mae Henrichs and Lois DuBois.   Norm's first job was at age 15 as a pin setter at the Gold Arrow Lanes.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII where he served aboard two different ships and was then discharged to the Naval Reserve through 1950.  He returned home to finish high school and enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard for a period of six years reaching the rank of Sergeant First Class.  He became a licensed barber working for Norm Raasch in Merrill and did this for several years. Most of his career was spent in the retail and sales profession.  He is a past president of the Wausau Chapter Full Gospel Businessmen's Association and also served as a field representative for this organization.                                                               As a WWII veteran, he was honored to go on the Never Forgotten Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. on October 17, 2011, and was accompanied by his son, Ray.  Norman said it was the trip of a lifetime and something he will cherish forever.  A few days later following the Honor Flight, he and his wife appeared on the front page of the Wausau Daily Herald.  He had arrived at the Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee that evening where she was waiting for him.  As he got off the plane, Ray was pushing him in a wheelchair across the room shaking hands with the crowd. They stopped when he saw his mother standing in the aisle. She leaned over and kissed Norman.  A photographer from the newspaper captured this special moment and published it. What a beautiful reflection of their love.  On December 8, 2019, during a ceremony held at Rennes, Norman received a proclamation from the State of Wisconsin for his service in WWII.  The plaque was presented to him by Congressman Tom Tiffany.  VFW Post 1638 and the Women's Auxiliary from Merrill also presented Norman with a beautiful hand-made quilt in honor of his military service as a WWII veteran.  The quilt covered an entire wall as it hung in his room at Rennes. The ceremony was attended by family and friends. He was very humbled by the presentations.  Both Channels 7 & 9 from Wausau interviewed him and aired it on television that evening.    Norman enjoyed playing dominoes with family and friends.  He also enjoyed a game of cribbage with anyone that knew how to play the game, and was willing to teach anyone who didn't.  He and Betz would get together with Floyd and Sylvia Lemon (from Merrill) often to play cards and socialize. No matter what the weather was like outside, they were traveling to Merrill to play cards!  Norman will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren, and friends.  The Skare family would like to thank the wonderful and caring staff at Rennes. Dad felt everybody there was his extended family and enjoyed his time with the staff and other residents.  Based on the comments from all the staff, they felt the same way about him!  The incredible care he received was a great comfort to him and to his family.      Visitation and Funeral Service will be held on July 9th, 2020 at John J. Buettgen Funeral Home located at 948 Grand Avenue, Schofield, Wisconsin.  Visitation will be from 9:00am to 11:00am and  Pastor Lori Slaughter from Living Well Faith Community Church will officiate the service at 11:00am.  Norman will be laid to rest at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Mosinee, Wisconsin on Friday, July 10th at 3:30pm with military honors.  In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the "Never Forgotten Honor Flight" at: https://neverforgottenhonorflight.com/ Condolences may be directed to:  John J. Buettgen Funeral Home in Schofield, Wisconsin or at www.honorone.com