Mike (Skinner) Snell 66 of Waupaca passed away on November 3rd 2022.
At an early age he developed a love of smoking meats from his grandfather. He continued that tradition by attending a sausage making course. He was well known for his smoked pork loin, sausage, hams, chicken, turkey and bacons. He was a firm believer in passing on that knowledge to future generations. He built many smoke houses and was always willing to provide advice to newcomers.
Skinner was an over the road truck driver for most of his life was but was best known for breaking and training mules and horses. His knowledge on mule and horse was vast and allowed him the ability to care for his own and many other animals. Many people would turn to him with question on a sick animal, and there was the occasional response of “it’s a long way from their heart.” His favorite saying was “a vet was better than a doctor because a vet has to guess what is wrong and a pig or horse can’t talk”. He also a member of the professional rodeo cowboys association and participated on teams.
He spent his free time hunting in Canada, Montana, Iowa, and Wyoming. He also packed his mules on hunting trips in the mountains. He enjoyed taking new people out west and “helping” them bag the big buck. He was a firm believer in if you shoot it, you gut it, and would walk the newbie through the process.
Skinner was preceded in death by his mother Doris, sister Karen, and his uncle Frank who he spent may hunting trips with.
He is survived by his father Norman Sr, brothers James and Norman Jr (Nora), adoptive daughter Erin (Gunner) Schutz; adoptive granddaughters Paisley and Sage; Special friend Tina; and many close friends and family.
A gathering is planned for a later date.
Strasser-Roller Funeral Home is assisting the family.