Thomas M. Skare, a longtime attorney in Cloquet, died Saturday, Sept. 4. He was 69.

Skare started practicing law in Cloquet and eventually became a partner at Newby, Lindgren & Skare before starting his own law firm in 2004. He retired from practicing law in 2020, just as the pandemic made meeting with clients especially difficult.

Skare’s practice focused on personal injury litigation, criminal defense, and general practice. For many years, he held the unofficial record for obtaining, on behalf of his client, the highest jury verdict in Carlton County, a $573,000 verdict against a Moose Lake resident for defamation. Although the award was later reduced by the courts, it was the highest jury verdict in Carlton County, a record that stood for more than a decade.

He was also a long-time public defender, retiring from that office in 2016.

Skare leaves behind his wife, Nancie Skare, and two sons, Ethan Skare and Ian Skare.