Leon Arthur Skubinna

Leon Arthur Skubinna, 94, of Cedar Falls, died at his home on August 25, 2021, of natural causes and following several brief illnesses. He was born July 22, 1927, in Oelwein, the son of Otto H. and Mabel M. (Huegli) Skubinna. Mr. Skubinna was baptized at his parent's home on February 13, 1928, and confirmed on March 29, 1942, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein.  He attended elementary school and graduated from Oelwein High School in 1945, then worked for the Chicago Great Western Railroad.  From 1946 until 1949, he was Office Manager of the Radio Division of the Raytheon Corporation at Oelwein.

On July 3, 1949, Mr. Skubinna married Miss Helen L. Gadow, the daughter of Herman and Helen Gadow of Maynard at a Lutheran Church in Des Moines. The happy couple honeymooned briefly at Clear Lake before returning to Oelwein to make their home. Later in 1949, Leon became the Purchasing Agent for Universal Hoist Company, a bulk material handling equipment manufacturer specializing in bucket elevators in Cedar Falls.  The couple moved to Cedar Falls in 1954.  In 1961, Universal Hoist was purchased by Gail G. Bonneson and the name later became Universal Industries.  From 1964 until 1991, Leon served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Industries.

By this time, the company had greatly prospered and had established offices and manufacturing facilities located at Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Hudson, as well as subsidiaries located in Wisconsin, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Canada and Munich, Germany.  In addition to grain elevators, the greatly expanded company now produced construction equipment, heavy-duty construction vehicles, conveyor belts, buckets, fiberglass speed boats and dune buggies, as well as gambling equipment.

The Skubinnas moved to Hudson in 1964, where they remained until 1988, when they moved back to Cedar Falls.  Leon retired in August 1991, although he remained associated with Universal Industries from 1991-2005 as administrator of the Gail G. Bonneson Estate as owner of Universal Industries and numerous other enterprises and business ventures.

Mr. Skubinna's hobbies included collecting antique cars, fishing as well as reading wild west novels and watching western movies starring John Wayne. He also enjoyed traveling across the United States, as well as visiting relatives and former business associates in Munich, Germany, with his last visit having been in October 2003.  Leon Skubinna was known as a man of integrity and honesty to his many friends and family.

Leon is survived by his son, Dr. Martin L. Skubinna of Washington, D.C. and daughter, Robin A. Albert of Glenwood; 3 grandchildren: Rebecca A. Albert of Erie, CO; Brook E. Parker of Bellevue, NE and Luke E. Albert of Erie, CO; 6 great-grandchildren: Mara and Layne Parker; Norah, Violet and Aksel Albert; and Maverick Lee Vollrath; a nephew Neil W. Skubinna of Swansboro, NC; as well as numerous cousins in California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington State and across the nation.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife; parents; and two brothers, Delbert Skubinna and Edwin Skubinna.

Leon's Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, in the Larsen Chapel at Nazareth Lutheran Church of Cedar Falls with a half-hour of visitation prior.  Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls. Memorials may be directed to the family and condolences can be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.