Joseph Bernard Klucewich: 1961 – 2025
Joseph Bernard Klucewich passed away January 13, 2025 in Casper, Wyoming surrounded by family, co-workers and friends who loved him; as a result of complications of diabetes. Joe was born April 4, 1961 in La Mesa, California.
In 1979, Joe graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon and moved with the family to Hamilton, Montana. Joe attended the University of Montana on a full ride scholarship from 1980-1984, then went on to complete a Masters in Special Education. During the next 10 years, Joe would be part of football, coaching teams at the University of Missouri, University of Montana, Rocky Mountain College and Carroll College in Montana, and teach Special Ed at schools in Corvallis and Missoula.
When he was 34, Joe felt a need in his soul and began attending the Gospel meetings he’d been invited to. He made his choice to serve God in 1995. In 1996, when Joe heard a call to God’s ministry he answered with his life. Joe was active 28 years serving in the ministry–until he passed away.
Joe was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Bernard Klucewich Jr.; his brother, Jim; and nephew, Joey.
Joe is survived by his mother, Sherry (and Stan) Swartz; sister, Yvette (and Dan) Ward; and brother, Josh (and Lauren) Klucewich; sister-in-law, Gaylene Klucewich; nieces and nephews; fellow-ministers; and many friends.
Mary Jo Burgess: 1937 – 2025
Our mom was born with the “I’ll do it myself attitude,†until she couldn’t. Under the care of Central Wyoming Hospice, Mary spent her last days on earth “partying like a rockstar,†surrounded by five generations of family, her loving husband, and her loyal Corgi, Ethel.
Mary Jo Burgess was born to Hattie and Jasper on June 16, 1937. She became the younger sister to Ethelyn. Mary Jo was born and raised in Ulm and Sheridan, Wyoming. She graduated from Sheridan High School in May of 1956. After high school, she found her home in Casper, Wyoming.
Mary Jo and Robert Henley married and had two daughters, Sandra and Linda.
Later on, she met the true love of her life, marrying Edwin R Burgess with Edwin bringing three children — Denby, Valerie, and George — into the marriage. Mary and Ed recently celebrated 50 wonderful years of marriage on December 24, 2024.
Mary was a proud and passionate member of many organizations, those of which include: Evansville Good Neighbors, Fort Caspar #4 Eastern Star, L.O.S.N.A. Kheta Court #59, Beauceant, Daughters of the Nile, The Rebekah’s, The Red Hatters, and The Elks Does.
Throughout her life, Mary found joy in rescuing Corgies. She loved quilting, chocolate, boxed wine, and spending time with her grandchildren (or teaching them her wild ways of life, we’re pretty sure.)
Mary Jo is survived by her loving husband, Edwin R. Burgess; their children: Sandra Peterson(fiancé, David Oedekoven), Linda Keyser, Denby Burgess(Carla Brown), Valerie Thiel(Jess), and George Burgess. Grandchildren include: Michelle Gifford(Craig), Shawn Hardman, Lauren Peterson, Erin Peterson, Taylour Keyser(Arianna), Eddie Burgess(Elizabeth), Michael VanGorp(Katie and daughters.) Great-grandchildren include: Scarlett, Madelienne, Brittany, Colton, Skyleur, Madison, Jackson, Parker, Gemma, Betty, and Brady. Nieces and nephews include: Chuck Gomendi(Renee), David Gomendi(Kathleen), Bruce Gomendi(Deb), Jim Gomendi(Diane), and Suzanne Gomendi(Doug.) Great-great-grandchildren include Allyson and Brecken.
Mary is predeceased by her parents, Jasper and Hattie; her beloved sister, Ethelyn; and her infant brother.
Join us in celebrating her life at First Christian Church on Saturday, February 8, 2025, with viewing at 9 a.m. and funeral service at 10 a.m. Committal will take place at Highland Park Cemetery. We ask that everyone in attendance wear Mary’s favorite color, red.
In lieu of flowers and memorial gifts, donations can be made in Mary’s honor to the organization of your choice.
Loretta Alma Nelson: 1939 – 2025
Loretta Alma (Keen) Nelson, born February 9, 1939 in Denver, Colorado, died peacefully in her sleep on January 27, 2025 in Casper, Wyoming.
Loretta is survived by her middle child, Susan (O’Connor) Collins; her grandchildren: Christina and Christopher Counts, Raymond Chance, and James O’Connor; her great grandchildren, Kaiden Ray and Colby Ray.
She was preceded in death by her eldest daughter, Wendy Kay O’Connor; her youngest son, Raymond O’Connor; and her husband, James Nelson.
Loretta worked at United Parcel Service for 17 years and managed to raise three kids on her own. When she retired from UPS, she worked at Highland Park Church for 18 years before retiring from the church. She took care of her oldest daughter, Wendy, for the last 12 years of her life due to the disease multiple sclerosis, until Wendy passed a few months ago. She loved and helped raise all of the grandchildren and the great grandchildren out of love for her family!! She was strong and beautiful and taught her kids to be the same. She will be missed.
The family will have a celebration of life at a later date.
Carolyn Young: 1935 – 2025
Carolyn Young, a devoted wife and loving mother of six, left this world on January 28, 2025, at the age of 89, in Casper, Wyoming. Born on February 6, 1935, in the warm embrace of Salina, Kansas, Carolyn’s life was a testament to the beauty of love, family, and nature.
Graduating from high school in Sidney, Nebraska, Carolyn embarked on a life rich with adventure and joy. As a steadfast partner and companion, she shared her life with Thomas Young, her beloved husband, who predeceased her. Their love story was woven through years of laughter, shared dreams, and countless cherished moments.
Carolyn’s heart overflowed with love for her children: Joann Bates, Charles Young, Robert Young, Susan Thorne, Darlene Hostetter, and Sharlene Young. She reveled in the joys of motherhood and took pride in nurturing her family, instilling values that would guide them through life. As a grandmother and great-grandmother, her legacy expanded, encompassing a tapestry of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, each a reflection of her warmth and spirit.
An enthusiastic lover of the outdoors, Carolyn’s passions took her from the peaceful serenity of flower gardens to the exhilarating thrill of camping and fishing adventures. Her hands, often stained with soil, spoke to her dedication in nurturing not only her beloved blooms but also the relationships that filled her life. Each flower she tended bore testament to her nurturing soul, thriving under her care much like the family she cherished.
Even as she embraced the thrill of new adventures, Carolyn’s heart remained steadfastly anchored in the moments spent with her family—campfires shared under starry skies, laughter ringing through the air, and stories handed down through generations.
In her passing, she leaves behind not just a family, but a legacy of love and resilience. Carolyn’s essence will continue to bloom in the hearts of her children and grandchildren, in the laughter that echoes through family gatherings, and in the very gardens she cultivated with such care. She will be dearly missed, her spirit forever intertwined with the memories made and the lives she touched.
Though she now joins her beloved husband Thomas and her grandson Christopher Thorn in eternal rest, her impact will resonate through the love she poured into each moment spent with those she cherished. Carolyn Young’s life was a radiant journey filled with care, adventure, and an unwavering devotion to her family—one that will forever inspire those she leaves behind.