Gerald Marietta

Jerry "Big Bear" Marietta
Gerald D. "Jerry" Marietta, son of C.C. "Duke" Marietta and Gertrude (Counter) Marietta, was born May 11, 1934 at Oberlin, Kansas. He passed away Saturday January 9, 2010, in Casper, Wyoming at the age of 75, after a long battle with Alzheimer's and lung cancer.

He was reared in Oberlin, where he attended Oberlin High School and excelled in football and wrestling. After graduation Jerry worked for several years at his fathers grocery store in Oberlin. Duke's Grocery was a fixture in the community for many years. Then on Dec. 8th 1956, Jerry married Mildred Rice, of Selden, Kansas and they moved to Denver, Colorado. Three children would eventually be born from this union. Terri Lynn Marietta was the first child, and their only daughter born in Denver, Colorado. Two sons, Mitch and Scott, followed Terri both born and raised in Casper, Wyoming.

Jerry was employed at Eaton Metal Products Company in Casper, Wyoming for 37 years. While at Eaton Metal Jerry moved his way up the management ladder from warehouse salesman to division manager. Moreover, while working at Eaton Metal Jerry had the distinct pleasure to work with his daughter, as his secretary, for many years.

Mr. Marietta loved the outdoors especially taking long walks around Casper with his dogs, He also enjoyed camping in the Big Horns, fishing, working in his yard and talking with everyone in his neighborhood where he lived for more than 40 years. The most important aspect of Jerry's life was his family. He truly rejoiced in the many hours the family spent together during their many gatherings.

Jerry could never get away from his athletic roots and spent numerous years coaching midget football and little league baseball in Casper, including 11 years on the board of directors of the Casper Little League with a short stint as the commissioner. Moreover, throughout his life he absolutely loved to attend sporting events at Kelly Walsh High School and Casper College. Jerry and Millie never missed a game when both his sons played basketball at Kelly Walsh. They also traveled to Hutchinson, Kansas to attend the National Junior College Tournament in 1978 watching their oldest son Mitch and the Thunderbirds take 5th place in the national tournament. Traveling was another of Jerry's passions because he could so easily make friends and never found anyone he could not engage in conversation, which definitely helped him gain the friendship of so many in the Casper community and also helped him in his many years at Eaton Metal.

His parents, his daughter Terri Lynn Marietta-Williams, and his mother and father in law, Lucile and Dot Rice, preceded Mr. Marietta in death.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 54 years, his brother and his wife Wayne and Odetta Marietta of Russell Kansas, his sister and brother in law Pat and Glenn Banks of Casper, his two sons Mitch and Scott, both of Casper and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial will take place on February 6th at 11am at Newcomer Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kelly Walsh Athletics in order to support all the athletes that he so deeply respected and admired. Please send to Kelly Walsh in care of Frank Mello, 3500 E. 12th Street Casper, Wyoming 82609.

Jerry was a large man with a heart of gold and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.