Gerald Stricker

TORRINGTON, WYO..... Funeral services for GERALD E. STRICKER, 75, will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Baker officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Gerald was received into heaven on March 9, 2006 at his home in Torrington after succumbing to brain cancer. Visitation hours will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home on Monday from 1pm to 7pm; Tuesday from 9am to noon; and the casket will be open at the church service. Those who wish may direct memorial contributions in Gerald's memory to the Gideon's International or to Valley Christian School. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com Gerald was born on February 25, 1931 in Gering, Nebraska the son of Ben and Hilda (Asmus) Stricker. He was raised on the family farm in the Huntley community and graduated from Huntley High School in 1950. He went on to attend Eastern Wyoming College for one quarter before enlisting in the US Navy. He then served during the Korean Conflict on board an LST and earned the rank of First Class Electricians Mate. Following his discharge in 1955, Gerald continued his college education at EWC where he met his wife, Emma Jean Denney. The couple married on December 18, 1955 at Torrington and then went on to attend the University of Wyoming together and Gerald graduated with a degree in agronomy in 1958. He then worked for the Farmers Home Administration in Wheatland, Casper, and Afton, Wyoming until 1962 when he assumed the operation of the Denney farm/ranch at Veteran, Wyoming and Emma Jean began her teaching career of 29 years. Gerald and Emma Jean and their three daughters operated the farm until 1985 when Gerald retired and the family moved to Torrington, Wyoming. Gerald was a member of the American Legion Post 56 of Veteran, Wyoming; and an active member of the Gideons International. He was also a member of Bethel Baptist Church where he spent many hours caring for the lawns and grounds and doing odd jobs around the church and Valley Christian School. Gerald helped on the farm when needed and attended many of the activities of his grandsons. He and Emma Jean did a lot of traveling and visited all 50 states and Canada in the course of their travels. He is survived by his wife of 50 years; three daughters, Debra (Byron) Yeik of Veteran, Wyoming; Jackie Stricker of Casper, Wyoming; and Laurie (Steve) Jones of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren, Beau Yeik of the University of Kansas at Salina, Kansas; and Travis Yeik, Lyndsey Jones, and Cassie Jones; two sisters, JoAnn McNulty and Sandi (Max) Jenkins; one brother, Bruce (Shirley) Stricker of Denver, Colorado; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law.

Gerald Stricker

February 25, 1931 - March 9, 2006