Obituaries

LOIS PAULINE JAMES KOCH

Lois Pauline James Koch, 91, died Sunday evening Aug. 5 in Pinedale of causes incident to age. Born November 13, 1915, in Logan, Utah, to Amasa Elias and Annie Pauline Painter James. At age three she moved with her family to Jackson Hole and, except for a few years during college and early married years, remained until 1957 when the family moved to the ranch at Daniel, Wyo.

While away at college Lois graduated from the Agricultural College in Logan (USU) in home economics. She taught school a few years in Jackson but spent her career as a wife, mother and homemaker. She married Warren George Koch February 15 , 1943, in Port Angeles, Wash., where he was stationed in the Army. Warren died May 2, 1979. They were the parents of four children.

Lois was very interested in her community and participated on several boards. She was a 4-H leader for many years. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in Relief Society and Sunday School.

She is survived by her children William James (Bill) of Daniel; Marla and Lyle Watts of Sheridan, Wyo.; Elizabeth and Alma Hubbard of Grace, Idaho and Pauline and Woody Musig of Centerville, Utah. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, one brother and two sisters-in-law. She is preceded in death by four brothers, one sister and one brother-in-law.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at 12 p.m. at the Pinedale L.D.S. Church. Bishop Chris Nelson conducted the service. Interment followed in the Pinedale Cemetery.

JOHN S. KVENILD

CASPER –A family memorial service for John S. Kvenild, 95, will be conducted following cremation in the mountains of western Wyoming later this month, on a date to be determined.

John died Aug. 3 at the Life Care Center of Casper following a short illness. He was born Oct. 6, 1911, in Omaha, Neb., to Berger Kvenild and Margit Tessmann Kvenild shortly after they had emigrated from Norway. He graduated from high school in Omaha and attended the University of Nebraska for one year before taking a job with Standard Timber Co. at its tie camp on Horse Creek, west of Daniel, Wyo. This is the area where he and his brother spent several summers in their high school days.

During the years with Standard Timber Co., he married Helen Jenkins and then joined the Jenkins family ranching operation, west of Big Piney. He and Helen were divorced in 1957. He then married Margaret M. Pape and continued ranching until he sold the ranch in 1966. They retired to Carmel, Calif., near his brother, where they lived until moving back to Wyoming in 2000.

He enjoyed the outdoors all of his life – hunting, fishing, skiing and golf, all of which he did into his 80s.

Survivors include sons J.R. Kvenild and wife Dorothy of Casper, Wyo., Bill Kvenild and wife Paula of Laramie, Wyo., step-son Spencer Reynolds and wife Joy of Princeton, N.J., sister-in-law Sally Kvenild of Hawaii, 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, one daughter, a brother and his parents.

JOHN HERBERT HAYS

John Herbert Hays, 59, passed away on July 30 while visiting family in Big Piney, Wyo. John was born on October 5, 1947, in Greeley, Colo., to Earl Marvin Hays and Miriam Lillian Speake. He had an older brother Cary Lee Hays and a younger brother Richard Leroy Hays.

He was raised in Big Piney and was a 1967 graduate of Big Piney High School. He started working for the local ranchers at a young age. He enjoyed the ranching way of life and was a very good cowboy. He started working with his father on the oil rigs in 1967. He then attended a technical school in Salt Lake City and Casper College.

In December 1969, while visiting friends in Casper, Wyo., he met the girl he would marry, Ruth Lorraine Ray of Lingle, Wyo. She was a salesgirl at Lou Tauberts Ranchwear. On January 2, 1970, they were married on their third date.

On October 22, 1970, they were blessed with a baby girl, Shawna Cheree. She was the light of his life. Fourteen months later on December 28, 1971, their first son, Justin Case, was born into the family. He was very proud to have a son.

In March 1973 they moved to the Finnegan Place where he was foreman for the Cross Lazy Two Land and Livestock Corporation. They moved to the Thompson cookhouse in April 1977.

On September 26, 1977, another son, Trevor John Everett, graced their home. John was so very proud of his children. He taught them everything he knew about life, love, and happiness.

He worked at the ranch until June of 1978. He then went to work in the oil field where he held several titles. John hired on with Production Operators Incorporated in July 1986. In 1988 he transferred to Turner Crest south of Wright but moved his family to Glenrock. He was transferred again in 1999 back to his hometown of Big Piney. This thrilled John as he was back with his kids and grandkids. He worked for the same company for 21 years and was still employed at the time of his death.

John was an avid outdoorsman. He found pleasure in hunting, camping, and fishing. He especially enjoyed catfishing. Spending time with his family and grandchildren were his most treasured moments.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Ruth; his children Shawna and Terry Dennis of Odessa, Texas, Justin and Trista (Smith) Hays of Big Piney, and Trevor and Tanya (Robinett) of Green River, Wyo.; his mother Miriam also of Green River.

He lived for time with his grandchildren and doted on each and every one of them: Chelcee Janelle, Falon Danielle and Yancey William Prace Hays; Trapper John Paul, Trytan Kristoffer Trayce, and Trayven Dominick Walker Hays; Samantha Christine and Logun Kade Dennis.

He is also survived by his brothers, Cary and Rick (Marleen), and his sisters-in-law Jimmie “Stormie” Aipperspach (Donald) and Sandra Produit (Fred “Butch”) and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, Earl, a sister-in-law, Janeanne Hays, and an infant grandson, Josiah Ashton Hays. Funeral Services were held Friday Aug. 3 at 11:00 a.m. at the High School Annex Gymnasium in Big Piney. Pastor Paul Nebeker conducted the service. Interment followed in the Plainview Cemetery.

ALLEN WAGONER

Graveside funeral services for Allen Wagoner, an 86-year-old Buffalo, Wyo., resident who passed away Friday at the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo, was held Tuesday, July 17 at 10 a.m. in Willow Grove Cemetery with Bob Zimmerscheid officiating. Visitation was held at the Adams Funeral Home Chapel on July 16 from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m.

The VFW and American Legion were in charge of military graveside rites. Donations may be made to the Friends of the Library or the Jim Gatchell Museum in care of the Adams Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo. A reception with the family was held at the Wesleyan Church Fellowship Hall hosted by the Shell Creek-Piney Homemaker’s Club, following the graveside service.

Allen Gene Wagoner was born on May 31, 1921, on the family ranch near Berta, Wyo., to Ed and Lillie Wagoner. He grew up in Campbell and Johnson Counties and attended Johnson County High School. Allen proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his honorable discharge he returned to Wyoming, where he worked on various ranches around Buffalo. He was married on March 18, 1947, in Hardin, Mont., to Rosa Bell Key and they made their home in Johnson County on ranches where Mr. Wagoner was a ranch foreman. In 1957 they bought a ranch on Tongue River in Sheridan County where they raised their five children. In 1982 they retired and moved into Buffalo.

Allen was a cowboy, rancher, hard worker, good provider and loved spending time in the mountains. He loved horses and trained dozens of fine horses during his lifetime, “Charlie Brown” being his favorite. Allen was quietly very proud of an honor bestowed on him by his good friend D. Michael Thomas, when Mike asked him to pose for his bronze sculpture “The Coats of Winter”, now in the permanent collection of the Jim Gatchell Museum. Allen and Rosa Bell celebrated 60 years of marriage in March of this year.

He is survived by his wife Rosa Bell of Buffalo; two sons, Ron Wagoner and his wife Kathy of Oak Harbor, Wash., and Rick Wagoner and his companion V.J. of Arlington,Texas; three daughters, Phyllis Mayo and her husband Bill of Boulder, Wyo.; Ann Brecht of Fort Collins, Colo., Linda Carter and her husband Dan of Oak Harbor, Wash.; one brother, Ed “Junior” Wagoner, of Glenrock, Wyo., and one sister, June Suchta, of Worland, Wyo.; five grandchildren, Misti, Matt, Richard, Christina and Tatyana; two great-grandchildren, Nicka and Jasmine; and two special friends, Bob Zimmerscheid and Mike Thomas. He was preceded in death by his brother, Pascal Wagoner, and three sisters, Mabel Keiser, May Wagoner and Montana Berger.