Lee "Skip" Mudlaff

Lee Frederic “Skip” Mudlaff, age 85, of Milton and formerly of Palatine, IL, Delavan, WI and Goreville, IL, died Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at his home. He was born in Chicago on February 9, 1939 to Leo and Louise (Bergman) Mudlaff of Palatine, Illinois.  “Little Skippy” was orphaned at a young age after the death of his mother in July of 1947, and his father two and a half years later on Christmas Eve, 1949.  He was placed with relatives in and around the Chicago area for several years until his beloved sister, Joan Alice and her new husband, Reuben Strickland became his guardians.  He graduated from Palatine High School, class of 1958 having excelled as an undersized lineman in football, and with many life-long friends.  Skip enrolled at Southern Illinois University.  He married his high school sweetheart, Carrol Lee, and to make ends meet, sold mobile homes.  His move to part-time student status resulted in Skip being drafted into the United States Army and serving in Korea near the demilitarized zone from February, 1962 to February, 1964.  He loved regaling his grandchildren with tales from the DMZ.  Lee Mudlaff was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Korea Defense Service Medal.  He was a proud veteran and member of various chapters of both the American Legion and the VFW.  Recognized as an Expert in rifle and a Marksman with the M-1, Skip continued his love of firearms both in target practice and his extensive gun collection.

Upon his honorable discharge and return to the United States, Skip and Carrol continued to work in the St. Louis/Southern Illinois area and watched the completion of the Gateway Arch before relocating to the northwest suburbs where they welcomed Michael Lee and Amanda Lee to the family.  They moved to Delavan, WI where Skip first worked at Wickes Lumber in Elkhorn before becoming a fuel oils distributor for Standard Oil.  Corporate restructuring allowed him to become the sole proprietor (“jobber”) of Mudlaff Oil serving homes, family farms and gas stations and marinas throughout Walworth County.  Many of Skip’s customers became friends.  The early ‘70’s brought blessing, heartache and blessing again for the Mudlaff family.  Mona Jo became the first of many teens or young adults over the years who found a home with the Mudlaffs.  She later married David Taylor and has remained, with their children and grandchildren, a loving and integral part of the family.  Then, Mandy was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, and died in December of 1971.  Finally, Malinda Lee was born at Lakeland Hospital in Elkhorn in 1972.  After the diagnosis of Mandy’s cancer, Skip and Carrol led campaigns in both the Walworth County area, as well as in their hometown of Palatine, IL, for the screening of children for cancer.  Through their efforts, newspapers reported, “Mandy Has Given a Lot of Love.”  Skip struggled reconciling the death of his parents and his daughter throughout his life, but he gained the joy of eternal life by placing his faith and trust in Jesus Christ and served in various capacities in the churches he attended throughout his adulthood.  He also served on the Board of Directors of Youth for Christ/Campus Life during his Wisconsin years and was a past President of the Delavan Rotary Club.

Skip and Carrol divorced in 1989.  Michael and Malinda both married and began their own families, bringing a total of five grandsons to join Mona’s children.  Skip married Lorene Hestrup, a lifelong friend of his sister Joan’s, and the two eventually built their “Camelot” where Skip always dreamt of retiring – Southern Illinois.  He would say that Lorene was  his “angel,” and she was.  Longtime loyal employee, Gordon Downing purchased Mudlaff Oil, freeing the newly married couple to permanently relocate.  Summer visits by the grandchildren, family and friends stopping on their way north or south, and annual Thanksgiving family reunions at Skip and Lorene’s home near Goreville on Lake of Egypt are lifetime memories never to be forgotten.   As health challenges developed, they outlived retirement, and reluctantly decided to move closer to family in 2019, selecting Milton Senior Living in Milton, WI.

Skip’s greatest civic joy and contribution came in his volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America.  Beginning with Troop 209, “best troop in Palatine,” to founding (with longtime friend and pastor, Llew Walker) both Troop 328 and High Adventure Explorer Post 329 at First Baptist Church in Delavan, to several district and council posts in both Wisconsin and Southern Illinois, Skip kept track of all “his Eagle Scouts” as their Scoutmaster and later as member and chair of Eagle Scout Boards of Review.  Summer trips took him and scouts to northern Wisconsin, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, and the High Adventure Base in Maine.  Skip twice volunteered to staff the BSA National Jamborees at Ft. A.P. Hill in Virginia in 2001 and 2005.  He was awarded the highest council-level service award, the Silver Beaver in 1989.  The SOS (“Sweet Old Scoutmaster”) was especially proud to participate in the presentation of the National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award to his Eagle Scout, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, in November of 2012 at the Governor’s Mansion.  Skip retired after 53 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America in 2019.

Skip is survived by his son Michael (Sasha) of Clive, IA and grandsons, Micah, Jonah, Nathanael and Isaiah; daughter Malinda (Ryan) Obershaw of Janesville, WI and grandson Zachary; daughter Mona Taylor of Elkhorn, WI and grandchildren Tara (Jerome) and Allen (Patti), along with their children; nephews Steven (Jean), Lawrence (Linda) Strickland and niece Nancy Nelson (along with their families); his first wife Carrol Lee (Herb) Moering; nephews David (Ava), Donald (Michelle) Sand and nieces Kari (Jim) Beck and Tara Sand; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harold and Lynnette Sand; and stepsons William (Debbie) and Joel Hestrup along with their children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lorene (Hestrup) Mudlaff, his daughter Amanda Lee, his sister and brother-in-law Joan and Reuben “Strick” Strickland, and his son-in-law, David Taylor.  Skip and Lorene’s cremated remains will be privately inurned at Randhill Cemetery in Arlington Heights, IL.

The family would like to thank Jacqueline, Erika, and the team at Milton Senior Living; along with Morgan and the team of Agrace Hospice in Janesville, WI for the excellent care (and patience) they gave Skip.

A memorial service of worship officiated and led by Lee “Skip” Mudlaff’s family will be held at 12:00 pm at Rock Valley Chapel in Beloit, WI on Saturday, October 26, 2024.  A visitation prior to the service will be from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (family available until 11:30), with a lunch reception at the church immediately following the service. 

A memorial is being established to benefit children and families under care for cancer at the University of Wisconsin American Family Children’s Hospital.  Gifts in Lee F. “Skip” Mudlaff’s memory may be made payable to “UW Foundation” with a note to direct as a tribute to the UW Kids Cancer Fund.  Gifts can also be made online at:  supportuw.org/giveto/KidsCancer.

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