Carleyn Mathisen

Carleyn (Jeanne) Mathisen passed away peacefully on May 1, 2016 at the age of 93. At her request there will be no services. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Newcomer Funeral Home of Casper and burial will be at a later date at the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery in Casper.

Jeanne, as she was known to all her family and friends was born February 12, 1923 in Alliance Nebraska to Carl and Flossie (Spencer) Hopkins. One of two daughters, Jeanne was raised for a short time in Alliance and Chadron, Nebraska until the family moved to Casper with the railroad in the late 1920s. She graduated from Natrona County High School. On June 8, 1941 she married Ralph Mathisen, her high school sweetheart, and began a marriage that would last 69 years. Shortly after their marriage Ralph enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and the newlyweds were stationed at what is now Edwards Air Force Base on the Mojave Desert in California. After his discharge in 1943 Ralph and Jeanne and their growing family moved back to Casper to live for a time then spent a few years in Mojave, then moved to El Monte, California, and eventually returned to their home in Casper. They bought the family home in the Mountain View Subdivision and lived there for over 50 years. Their oldest, a daughter named Kim was born in Casper after Ralph's discharge as was their oldest son Ron. The two youngest sons, twins Tim and Tom were born during one of their short stays in Mojave.

After the children had grown Jeanne went to work as an aid at Natrona County Memorial Hospital in Casper. Later, Jeanne was one of the first to graduate and work as a certified surgical scrub technician at Natrona County Memorial Hospital (now Wyoming Medical Center.) Her career there lasted 40 years.

Jeanne and her husband were pioneers on Alcova Lake and owned two cabin lots at Alcova; at one time they held lot number one, eventually trading for lot 32 where they built the small two room cabin that became the destination of choice for Jeanne, and the rest of the family for years to come. She and Ralph taught their children, their spouses, their grandchildren, and many others how to have a great time at the lake, complete with plenty of ice cold beer (preferably Coors or Budweiser) and a huge steak barbecue at the end of a long day of fun. She was also fond of music and dancing and would not hesitate to move across the dance floor with Ralph in the lead when a good tune was played.

After her retirement in the 70's Jeanne and Ralph spent many days on the road in their motor home with their family dogs for company. This tradition lasted nearly 20 years. They also made many trips together visiting both Hawaii and Alaska where their son Tim was stationed in the Navy. Retirement did not deter her from keeping busy. She would spend hours knitting and crocheting as well as doing a number of other crafts.

Jeanne is survived by daughter Kim Browning and her husband Don of Casper, son Tim Mathisen and his wife Mickey of Fallon, NV, son Tom Mathisen and his wife Judy of Kaycee, WY and daughter in law Karel Mathisen of Casper. She is also survived by: grandchildren Don Claunch and David Browning of Casper; Dori Claunch of Denver, CO; Danae Stampfli of Cheyenne, WY; Ron and Tom Mathisen of Carlisle, IN; Sheri Daugherty of Casper; Shane Mathisen of Las Vegas, NV; Corey Mathisen of Fallon, NV; Misty Parker of Dubuque, IA; Bodie Mathisen of Kaycee, WY; 12 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, her son Ron, her sister Theda Adamson, and by her granddaughter Darla Claunch. The family would like to thank Life Care Center of Casper who took such good care of her in her last years. Memorials to the Casper Humane Society would be appreciated by the family.

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