05/04/2026
William “Skeeter” Wesley Howlett, lifelong music buff, master tinkerer, proud grass-mowing enthusiast, and unofficial encyclopedia of songs, passed away on May 1, 2026, leaving behind a legacy equal parts laughter, love, and an impressive music collection.
Skeeter was born July 28, 1952, in Crete to Fred L. and Beulah (Formanek) Howlett. His nickname came early, courtesy of the local fire department, who were building ball fields on land his parents had donated. Young Skeeter hovered nearby constantly—asking questions, making friends, and buzzing from one conversation to the next—earning him a nickname that stuck for the next seven decades.
He often recalled riding along with his father on the Howlett Produce delivery route and learning carpentry from his Grandpa Jim Formanek—skills that later showed up in decks, garages, and at least one well-loved treehouse. He had a knack for taking things apart to see how they worked and, fortunately, usually putting them back together again.
A 1970 graduate of Dorchester High School, Skeeter turned his curiosity and mechanical instincts into a career. He worked at Mike’s Music in Lincoln repairing jukeboxes and arcade games—making him one of the few people who could fix your machine and tell you who originally recorded the song playing on it. He later worked as a maintenance electrician at Alpo, where he took pride in keeping things running smoothly. If something broke, he’d figure it out. If he couldn’t, he’d give you a very confident explanation of why.
In 1982, he married Janis (Fullerton), gaining three sons—Jamie, Billy, and Tim—and later welcoming a daughter, Chelsea. Together they built a life on their acreage, complete with a mix of carefully chosen animals and the occasional stray cat Skeeter would befriend and promise a lifetime supply of food from the company store. Over the years, they turned their property into a gathering place, adding a pond and a cabin that hosted countless BBQs, fishing trips, fireworks shows, and long conversations—often with Skeeter nearby, mid-story or mid-project.
Music was a lifelong passion. He dabbled in instruments and could name a song within seconds—along with who wrote it, the color of the original record label, and what was on the B-side. He brought that passion to others as a DJ with Saturday Night Special and Skeet’s Karaoke, creating nights full of laughter, questionable singing, and great memories.
He was, without question, a “good time Charlie”—the kind of person who made any gathering better just by showing up and turning up the music. But there was more to him than that. Skeeter faced life’s harder challenges head-on, including overcoming alcohol addiction—proving he could work on himself just as skillfully as anything he built or repaired.
He loved being a grandfather—arguably his favorite role. During the pandemic, he made the most of unexpected time at home, helping his grandsons Jesse and Franklin through virtual school in a setup affectionately known as “Howlett Elementary.” Whether he was explaining lessons or keeping them on task, he was there—usually with a comment, a joke, or a suggestion for a better way to do it.
If you couldn’t find Skeeter fixing something or talking about music, you could probably find him mowing. Five acres was no small job, but he took pride in it, often alongside Janis, who always had a new plant or project in mind. The to-do list—and the in-progress list—was always growing.
In retirement, he and Janis looked forward to traveling in their camper. Though illness cut some of those plans short, they still made meaningful memories on the road and on the water in their pontoon boat.
Skeeter was preceded in death by his parents, Fred L. and Beulah Howlett; his brothers, Fred J. Howlett and John Howlett; and his son, Billy Bates.
He is survived by his wife, Janis (Fullerton) Howlett; his children, Jamie (Suzanne) Bates, Tim (Linda) Bates, and Chelsea (Logan) Weideman; his grandchildren, Anthony (Katie) Bates, Dillon Bates, Jackson (Marisa) Bates, Cooper (Genna) Bates, Mollie Bates, Griffin (Sydney) Bates, Carson (Megan) Bates, and Jesse, Franklin, William, and Henry Weideman; his great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Caroline, Graham, and Pierce Bates; his siblings, Robin Malin-Howlett, Wayne (Marsha) Howlett, Joyce Howlett, and Ruth (Greg) Luedtke; and many nieces and nephews.
Skeeter will be remembered for his stories, his generous spirit, and his ability to fix just about anything. He could be sarcastic and a little cranky—often joking that he was the Grinch—but those who knew him best knew his heart was anything but small. He never turned down a kid fundraising and was always willing to help someone going through a hard time. He leaves behind a family who will miss him deeply and a lifetime of memories filled with laughter, music, and love.
Please join in sharing memories and celebrating a man who truly never met a stranger. Friends and family are invited to his Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 9, from 9:30–11:00 a.m. at the American Legion in Dorchester, Nebraska.
Memorials to the family with a charity to be designated at a later date.
Visit www.marcysvoboda.com to leave condolences.
Svoboda Funeral Home
211 N. Linden Street
Wahoo, NE 68066
402-443-3624
