Jodi’s Journal: Behind ‘Skelly Bob,’ householders open entrance yard to neighborhood

Nov. 16, 2025

Someday, I’d like to start out a characteristic sequence loosely titled “Who lives there?”

The thought is that we’d discover distinctive and attention-grabbing houses on the town, knock on the door and see if the residents can be keen to share their tales.

For some time, the primary one on my psychological checklist has been a house within the space of thirty third Street and Western Avenue outlined by what I not too long ago discovered is a 12-foot-tall skeleton.

At least, that’s in all probability what you’d acknowledge it for till now.

My hope is that after studying their story, you’ll be extra inclined to recollect what’s behind the towering garden decor referred to as “Skelly Bob” — as in what’s actually behind him, not less than for the subsequent few weeks.

But first, let me fulfill my very own curiosity concerning the skeleton itself. It seems the acquisition — from Home Depot just a few years in the past — was impressed by JP Muko’s on-line scrolling, which delivered him photos of simply such a skeleton exterior different houses, in different cities.

“I wanted it,” stated 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 solely satisfied his spouse, Kristine, so as to add Skelly Bob to their entrance yard, but in addition basically to completely set up him.

“I figured if we’re going to spend the money on it, might as well leave it up year-round,” she stated. “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 certain concerning the neighborhood response, she stated it has all been constructive.

Skelly Bob has been outfitted in a soccer jersey, wrapped in vacation lights and wore a traditional ghost costume final Halloween that lasted solely half a day in opposition to 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 is perhaps probably the most acceptable look but. Because for those who drive by the Mukos’ dwelling right now, you’ll see not solely a skeleton but in addition a rising variety of plastic totes positioned round him.

“I saw one or two posts online of people utilizing their free little libraries as a food pantry,” Kristine Muko stated. “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 defined, is a chef who likes to feed individuals and host visitors. That clearly doesn’t finish when the brewery closes.

The totes have been added to their garden in early November together with an indication: “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 stated.

The communal pantry “has been pretty popular,” Kristine Muko stated. “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 gadgets comparable to female hygiene merchandise and crocheted hand heaters.

They’re as much as three totes and the insulated cooler. Popular gadgets have included microwavable meals, protein bars and cookies, they stated.

“Overall we all know people are struggling,” Kristine Muko stated. “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 proceed the trouble not less than via this month.

This week additionally fittingly marks Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a nationwide effort design to boost consciousness and assist for these experiencing starvation and homelessness.

The Mukos show that huge, overwhelming points can nonetheless be addressed at a small, neighborhood stage. I’ve seen comparable grassroots efforts throughout the metro space, they usually need to be lifted as much as hopefully encourage others and remind us how a lot good exists round 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 surely’s straightforward to see how the affect is multiplying.

We may simply must launch that “Who lives there” characteristic. If a 12-foot skeleton results in one thing that extraordinary, I think about it’s price knocking on just a few extra distinctive doorways.