Jodi’s Journal: Behind ‘Skelly Bob,’ homeowners open front yard to community

Someday, I’d like to start a feature series loosely titled “Who lives there?”

The thought is that we’d find unique and interesting homes in town, knock on the door and see if the residents would be willing to share their stories.

For a while, the first one on my mental list has been a home in the area of 33rd Street and Western Avenue defined by what I recently learned is a 12-foot-tall skeleton.

At least, that’s probably what you’d recognize it for until now.

My hope is that after reading their story, you’ll be more inclined to remember what’s behind the towering lawn decor known as “Skelly Bob” — as in what’s literally behind him, at least for the next few weeks.

But first, let me satisfy my own curiosity about the skeleton itself. It turns out the purchase — from Home Depot a few years ago — was inspired by JP Muko’s online scrolling, which delivered him images of just such a skeleton outside other homes, in other cities.

“I wanted it,” said JP Muko, a chef and “beertender” at Remedy Brewing Co. “I just kept seeing people getting them online and dressing them up, and it always looked like fun.”

Somehow, he not only convinced his wife, Kristine, to add Skelly Bob to their front yard, but also essentially to permanently install him.

“I figured if we’re going to spend the money on it, might as well leave it up year-round,” she said. “We try to keep it fun, and that’s part of dressing it up periodically is to keep it fresh and exciting. I’m surprised how many people comment on how their kids like it.”

While they weren’t sure about the neighborhood reaction, she said it has all been positive.

Skelly Bob has been outfitted in a football jersey, wrapped in holiday lights and wore a classic ghost costume last Halloween that lasted only half a day against the South Dakota wind.

“He’s got his Thanksgiving shirt on right now,” JP Muko added. “We do have an inflatable turkey leg to give him.”

And that might be the most appropriate look yet. Because if you drive by the Mukos’ home today, you’ll see not only a skeleton but also a growing number of plastic totes placed around him.

“I saw one or two posts online of people utilizing their free little libraries as a food pantry,” Kristine Muko said. “I feel like JP was the one who brought it up, like, hey, I wonder if we should do that in our front yard, and we just decided to do it.”

Her husband, she explained, is a chef who loves to feed people and host guests. That clearly doesn’t end when the brewery closes.

The totes were added to their lawn in early November along with a sign: “Skelly Bob’s Food Pantry. Take what you need! Leave what you can.”

“We stocked it with a Costco run, and then we added an insulated cooler for canned goods,” JP Muko said.

The communal pantry “has been pretty popular,” Kristine Muko said. “Before we shared it online, we had people showing up. We check it once a day, and it’s never been empty, and people are definitely adding to the collection. It’s not food we put in.”

Others have contributed items such as feminine hygiene products and crocheted hand warmers.

They’re up to three totes and the insulated cooler. Popular items have included microwavable meals, protein bars and cookies, they said.

“Overall we all know people are struggling,” Kristine Muko said. “I think with November and the looming SNAP benefit issues, it seemed like the right time to throw it out there and see how it goes.”

They plan to continue the effort at least through this month.

This week also fittingly marks Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a national effort design to raise awareness and support for those experiencing hunger and homelessness.

The Mukos prove that big, overwhelming issues can still be addressed at a small, neighborhood level. I’ve seen similar grassroots efforts across the metro area, and they deserve to be lifted up to hopefully inspire others and remind us how much good exists around us.

“It’s hard for people to ask for help or access help,” Kristine Muko added. “To have it scattered in pop-ups throughout the community, more little things like this I think would be great.”

She calls it little, but it’s easy to see how the impact is multiplying.

We might just have to launch that “Who lives there” feature. If a 12-foot skeleton leads to something that extraordinary, I imagine it’s worth knocking on a few more distinctive doors.

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