Passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday January 26, 2013 on what would have been his 67th wedding anniversary. He was 92. Born June 18 1920 in Solvang, Hans was the youngest child of Hans C.D. Skytt and Betty R. Skytt.
Hans graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in 1938. In 1940, he joined the United States Army Air Corps and spent the duration of World War II in the Air Transport Command. It was during this time he met his future wife Kathryn C. Sweetser in Kansas City, Missouri. Upon his discharge at the end of the war, the two were married in Norton, Kansas. They returned to Solvang where Hans joined his father and brother, Evald, in the family business, the Solvang Mill & Lumber Yard. He actively pursued other commercial ventures including the development of the Royal Copenhagen Motel.
He was proud of his Danish heritage and was a strong supporter of the continued maintenance of the City of Solvang’s Danish atmosphere. Hans was an avid collector of eclectic items, collecting anything from stamps to tractors to giant clocks (such as the one he restored that is located on Mission Dr. and Atterdag Rd.). He was one of the founding members of Lodge 701 of the Freemasons, a 56 year member of Post 160 American Legion, and participated in Danish Days into his late 80s.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn; his sister, Clara Pohls; brothers Evald Skytt and Eskild Skytt; and nephew Henry Skytt. He is survived by his son, Edwin Skytt; granddaughter Rachel Skytt; nieces, Betty Deeney and Gail Dullenkopf; and nephew, Erling Pohls.
Graveside services will be held at the Solvang Cemetery on Monday February 4th at 11 o’clock with a reception to follow at the American Legion wing of the Memorial Hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Elverhoj Museum.
Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors
