The following obituaries appeared in the May 13, 2020 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries please visit Schwab Mortuary.
Helen Joyce Johnson, 87, passed out of this life May 7, 2020 in Afton. Helen has been a faithful convert member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints since 1962 serving in numerous callings in Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society over the years. She was a constant missionary for the gospel she loved with all her heart plus served two fulltime missions for the Church. Her sweet, unconditionally loving spirit will be missed by her entire family.
Helen was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada August 3, 1932 to John and Christina Weitzel. She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings; her brother Elmer, sister Caroline, sister Norma, brother Donald plus grandsons Casey Wech and Andy Johnson.
Helen was married to Allen L. Johnson from 1956 until 1985. Helen had many jobs throughout her life but was best known for her hand-dipped chocolates.
Helen is survived by her three children; son Allen D. Johnson, daughter Paddy & husband Ballard Johnson, and daughter Sandy Wech. Helen is also survived by nine grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Saturday May 16, 2020 1:00pm at: Schwab Mortuary 44 East 4th Ave, Afton, WY 83110.
Jean “Beanie” Krautter, 94, of Helena, Montana and Alpine, Wyoming, died at Bee Hive Assisted Living Cottages of natural causes on Monday, April 20, 2020, with her daughters by her side.
Jean Isobel Mathews was born on January 16, 1926 in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Harold Azariah Mathews and Jessie Fisher Nutt Mathews. Jean grew up in Bayonne and Roselle, NJ with her younger brother William , her parents, her grandmother Mary Boyd Nutt, her great aunt Catherine Boyd and her Aunt Agnes and Uncle Al who lived a few blocks away.
Jean graduated from Abraham Clark High School in Roselle in 1944. Taking the business/secretarial track in high school prepared her to go to work for Standard Oil of New Jersey after graduation.
An accomplished musician, Jean played the piano and organ at the First Presbyterian Church of Roselle while still in high school and through out her life in many other churches. She was a relief organist on the Scotch Plains Baptist Church’s 300 year old pipe organ in the 1950’s.
Jean married her high school sweetheart, Donald Carroll Krautter on June 14, 1947 after he was discharged from the U.S. Navy (Submarine Service). The young couple moved to Northern Michigan where Don attended Northern Michigan Tech, graduating with a degree in forestry.
Jean and Don owned the Aurora Tree Expert Company and Krautter’s Garden Center in Fanwood, New Jersey until they moved to Star Valley, Wyoming, in 1973 to farm and develop the Broken Wheel Ranch.
Jean experienced a life-changing event in 1974 when she attended a campus Christian service with her daughter, Nancy, at Montana State University, and came to faith in her Savior Jesus Christ. Becoming a born again Christian gave her a new passion to lead others to know Jesus and she taught Sunday School, Awana and Vacation Bible School at Morning Star Baptist Church in Alpine. She was a faithful member of her ladies Bible Study group, the Alpine Ladies League, and a Pioneer Days volunteer.
Jean is survived by her brother, William Stuart Mathews of Felton, Delaware; her children Connie (Arthur) McCafferty; Dr. Martin (Lual) Krautter; Nancy (Roger) Calhoun and Gail (Jim) Asbury, and grandchildren Joel and Daniel Krautter, Carrie (Brian) Shenefelt, Autumn (Bryan) Lane and Jesse (Ashton) Calhoun; Bryan (Dakota) Asbury, Austin and Bradley Asbury; five great grandchildren; and her nephews Bill, Jim and David Mathews and their families.
Jean was predeceased by her husband Don Krautter in 2010, her sister-in-law Helen Mathews and three infant grandchildren: Roger Randolph Calhoun Jr., April Jean Marie Asbury and Baby Asbury who are buried near her in the Amesville Cemetery, Etna.
Jean was a sweet and gentle lady who had many life-long friends where ever she lived. She loved to read, sing & play hymns and cook, welcoming any one who stopped in for coffee. Her friends gave her a nickname “The Angel of Alpine” because she was such a happy person, always smiling, with a funny story to share. People loved her deeply.
Jean was laid to rest in Christian burial at the Amesville Cemetery on Friday, April 24 in a coffin made by her son-in-law Jim Asbury. The service was officiated by Pastor Arthur McCafferty and attended by a small group of family and friends. Memorial services in Alpine and Helena will be scheduled at a later date.
Joseph Kent Hunsaker was born July 13, 1973 in Idaho Falls. He passed away on May 4, 2020 in Afton.
Joe was the fourth child of Kent and Elaine Hunsaker of Smoot. He attended elementary school in Wayan, Idaho and attended Star Valley High where he ran track. This is where he met his high school sweetheart, Tina Rae Hansen. They were married December 18, 1993. They had four boys which he loved dearly. Unfortunately life made challenges for them and he and Tina divorced in October of 2017.
Joe had many talents and interests including, photography, playing the guitar,horses, camping and gathering fire wood. He was a great mechanic and refrigeration technician. Working at a variety of locations. One of Joes strengths, was his willingness to help people. He also had an ability to make people laugh.
Joe struggled throughout his life with an addiction to alcohol. He made great efforts to change his life, seeking help often. Wanting to be a better father, husband, brother and friend. Sadly he was not able to overcome these struggles. His family loved him and tried to support his efforts to change. All of us are deeply saddened in loosing him at this time.
He is preceded in death by two grandmothers, Theomae Casperson and Isabell Hunsaker and brother-in-law, Todd Blair Harmon. Joe is survived by his parents, Kent and Elaine Hunsaker of Smoot, siblings, Eileen Merritt (Alan), Michelle Harmon, Stephen Hunsaker (Michelle Krelo), his sons, Austin Joseph (Bailey Putnam), Joseph Tanner, Greyson Thomas and Tennyson Bradley, one granddaughter, Brixley Buck and her baby sister. He also had many nieces and nephews. Other family, Charlene, Amy and Wendy.
A family memorial will be held at a later date. If you would like to help the boys with funeral costs, you can make donations at 1st Bank of Afton, where an account is being set up, 307-885-3500.
Thiel James Gomm, 88, of Smoot, Wyoming, passed away on May 10, 2020 of natural causes. Thiel James Gomm was born on March 7, 1932 to Ben Charles Gomm and Opal Louise Allred in Osmond. He had four brothers and two sisters. His childhood was spent in the Osmond and Smoot areas full of adventure and practical jokes.
After graduating from Altamont High School in 1950, he went on to study Diesel Mechanics and Electrical Engineering at Utah State University, interrupted by a drafted stint in the army in 1953 during the Korean War.
After graduation and throughout his professional life, he worked at many different companies, including some of his own start-ups, in the electronics field: Hughes Aircraft, Beckman Instruments, Montek, Cordin Co., Newtronix, Inex, Argon at INEL.
In 1952, he met Lola Darlene Bergener, of Logan, Utah on a blind date. They wed in 1953 in the Logan Temple. He would later say that his life’s greatest highlight was his wife. Together they went on to have nine children: David Thiel, Viann, Lynette, Tena Darlene, Milinda, Tyler James, Tom Charles, Troy Alan, and Trisha Lee. Thiel loved his family.
He also loved to invent and create. He is named on many patents. While he was an engineer by trade, he was an inventor at heart. He was a man of faith and served diligently in various callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including a mission to the Philippines, and multiple bishopric and high counsel positions. His personal foundation was in Jesus Christ.
Thiel was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Lola, daughter Lynette, brothers Merrell, Ben and Lyle, and his sister Veretta.
He is survived by his brother Bryant, sister Lila, children David, Viann, Tena, Milinda, Tyler, Tom, Troy, Trisha; 32 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 11 a.m. in the Smoot Cemetery.
