Richard “Skip” Lowell Kjose

Richard “Skip” Lowell Kjose

Marion

Richard “Skip” Lowell Kjose, 71, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on February 9, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital from injuries sustained in a house fire.

Skip was born on June 26, 1954, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Lowell Donald Kjose and Lorraine Mable Gagnon. He was raised in Sioux City, Iowa, where his love of music took root at age 15. Skip attended Briar Cliff College and Kirkwood Community College before building a career in retail management at Walgreens and Hy-Vee.

Music was Skip’s lifelong passion. He played bass guitar, wrote his own songs, and sang—always with a bass in hand and a melody in mind. Whether jamming with friends or working on new material, music was the thread that ran through his entire life.

Skip was a devoted fan of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Kansas City Royals, and he always had cats by his side—constant companions through the years.

Skip was preceded in death by his father, Lowell Donald Kjose, and his mother, Lorraine Mable Gagnon.

He is survived by his daughter, Elissa (Jeff) Mathews; his sister, Lori Kjose; and his brothers Joseph (Susan) Kjose, Michael Kjose, and Bryan Kjose, 4 grandchildren and 3 nephews.

Funeral services will be held by Pastor Trish Decker on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, 155 Boyson Road, Marion, Iowa. A luncheon will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Skip’s honor at https://everloved.com/life-of/richard-kjose.