Jack Holman

Jack W. Holman, 88, went on to his new home, Heaven, on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016 at the Sheridan Wyoming Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Sheridan, Wyoming. He passed away after a long battle of cancer. Jack had been a Veteran resident of the Mountain View Living Center in the Sheridan V.A. since July of 2015. Prior to that Jack and his wife, Vonny, had been residents of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and also Casper, Wyoming.

Jack was born on April 25th, 1927, in Columbine, Wyoming, the Salt Creek Oil Fields, to Leo Holman and Mable Pearl Castle Holman. He was from a Wyoming pioneer family and was a fourth generation Wyomingite. His grandparents were some of the first residents of the towns of Douglas and Glenrock and his great uncle's and aunt's were some of the first residents of Casper and Lost Cabin Wyoming. When Jack was a year old his parents moved the family to Casper. Shortly after, Jacks father left the area to find employment but never returned. Jack's mother raised Jack and his two older sisters as a single mother during the Great Depression. They had many hardships. His mother later married A. C.Tommy Thompson when Jack was 13. He was a very good stepfather to Jack.

Jack attended Jefferson, Washington and McKinley Grade Schools in Casper, the Casper Junior High and Natrona County High School. Jack graduated from N.C.H.S in 1945. He enlisted at the age of 17 into the U.S. Navy. After his military service he returned back to Casper and attended Casper College for one year. During his military service in the Navy during World War II he served in the Pacific Theatre on the U.S.S. Purdy CDD-734. Jack and his ship's crewmates were one of the first to go into Hiroshima Japan after the dropping of the atomic bomb. His nickname given to him in the Navy was "Cotton" because at that time he had a head full of blonde curly hair.

Jack W. Holman and E. Lavonne Peterson were married December 29th, 1951, in his parent's living room in Casper. They then had a daughter, Jacqueline, (Jaci,) and a son Mark. Jack built their family home the year Jaci was born next door to his parents on Cherry Street and they have had that family home ever since.

Jack worked in Casper 35 years for the Standard Oil Refinery, (later to become the Amoco Refinery,) starting in 1947 and retiring in 1982. One year later Vonny retired after 33 years from the Wyoming National Bank in Casper. After their retirements the two became Snow Bird by having another home in Yuma Arizona. They would reside in Yuma in the winters and Casper in the summers. After 15 years they sold their home in Yuma and purchased another home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, of which they had resided up until Vonny's passing of June 2015.

Jack and Vonny loved to travel, of which they had seen most of the United States, many areas of Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean. They spent many summers camping and boating at Alcova Lake and other lakes in Wyoming and Idaho. They spent many winters snowmobiling from the family cabin on Casper Mountain, Yellowstone National Park and other mountains of Wyoming.

Jack had belonged to the Boy Scouts, Junior Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, the VFW, was a life member of the Elks Club, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite of the Shrine, the Shriners, Jobs Daughters and last but not least, the Senior Walking Group of Lake Havasu City. He was also a skilled carpenter, designer and builder. Besides building the family home in Casper, he was continually building on to every property that they had, remodeling it, and always coming up with new projects to work on until his last days. Jack loved to go out for breakfast. His favorite color was red. He enjoyed hunting and fishing for many years. He loved to play cards, dominoes and board games. His passion was watching football. He was a practical joker. He loved dogs including all those in the family and his friend's dogs. He would carry dog treats in his vehicle for any dog and always kept dog treats ready at the house, in case one of his favorite dogs dropped in to see him.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, LaVonne, and his two sisters, Helen Samples and Betty Wilson of California. He is survived by his daughter Jacqueline Gish and her husband Brian of Casper, Wyoming, son Mark Holman and his wife Brenda of Spring Creek, Nevada, 9 grandchildren, Joshua, Stephanie, Ryan, Lindsay, Scott, Andrea, Danielle, Melissa and Chantyle. He is also survived by 11 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren; plus other cousins, nieces, nephews and many good friends.

A memorial service for Jack will be held in combination with a memorial service for LaVonne on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 318 East 6th Street, Casper, Wyoming, 82601. Donations can be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Jack and Vonny.