John E. Kutcher

During the afternoon of August 13, 2014, Wyoming lost its greatest dry fly fisherman.

John Edward "Jack" Kutcher died of a significant heart attack but not before Jack, Wilda, the EMTs and the good doctors fought like hell.

Jack was a superior husband, brother, son, grandfather, in-law, and uncle. Most importantly, he was also great friends with all.

On November 27, 1937 Jack was born in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains in Sheridan, Wyoming to father, John Walter and mother Louise Lurinda. From that day forward he was never away from the great state of Wyoming for more than a few years at a time. Eight years later, John and Louise brought Barbara Louise into the family. The family was solidly Wyoming, but due to a medical condition, doctors recommended that John spend at least some time in the dry southwest air. So, for a few years, the family split time between Sheridan and Bowie, Arizona. In Arizona Jack brought his .22 rifle to school so he and friends could shoot together after class. Those were different times. Jack graduated from Sheridan High School in 1956. He never mentioned if it was with honors.

In Jack's early twenties, his dad John died of a stroke. John, only sixty, left behind Louise, Jack and Barbara. Jack was a man and proved it by taking care of his mother and sister. Jack never quit being Barb's brother but also accepted the temporary role of father while Barb grew into adulthood. He led her the right way. When John died, Jack brought home Chipper the dog for Barb and life was just a little better. Louise passed in 1972. Although they lived 250 miles apart, Jack and Barb saw each other at least every other month. They stayed close until the day he left us.

Jack served in the National Guard while also working for the railroad. For a time he worked for JCPenney before beginning a career at Woolworth. He was department manager in Grand Junction, Colorado, but the company thought so highly of him that they sent him to other areas to help in the opening of new stores. He spent time in North Dakota, Nebraska, and Minnesota before landing in Casper, Wyoming. He only moved as far as Bar Nunn, Wyoming. He lived there for decades.

For a time, Jack was motivated to go to work each day as he had noticed another employee, Wilda Gene Arnold. One thing lead to another and they were married in Sheridan, Wyoming in 1978. They stayed together for the duration. To the marriage Wilda brought mother Hazel Arnold, father Bill Arnold, daughter Tomi Williams, and grandson Gabe Williams. Jack brought sister Barbara Sollars, brother-in-law Sheldon Sollars and their three boys, Matt, Mark and Mike to the table.

As we all know, Woolworth didn't make it so Jack moved on and took a job with the town of Bar Nunn. Drive through Bar Nunn some time and look at the trees. Jack planted nearly all of them. He also drove a snowplow and did whatever else it took to make Bar Nunn a better place to live. He was on the Zoning Committee for years planning subdivisions. It must have worked as the population has grown to over 2200 and it has its own exit sign on I-25. He retired in 2012.

Jack spent many years making the fish of Wyoming anxious. It was obvious to anyone who watched him for more than 30 seconds on the North Tongue River that Jack knew how to cast a fly rod. He also tied flies. Jack and Wilda spent many, many nights camping in the Big Horn Mountains often with the Sollars family. His nephews could not wait to camp if Jack, Wilda, and dogs Buford and Angel were coming. Later, they brought dogs Mort and Mindy. Jack and Wilda enjoyed watching their nephews fish the South Tongue River in Dead Swede Campground. Jack untied countless knots in fly line for those boys.
He later became interested in artifact hunting, which was really just a good excuse to explore. After examination, he placed every artifact right back where he found it. Jack and Wilda also spent time making stained glass art. Jack turned his backyard into a private park – he was serious about his lawn, garden, and trees.

He spent days and days fishing and camping with his brother-in-law, Sheldon. Sheldon feels a void in his life right now. Years ago jack lost another very close fishing partner, Charlie Schilling.

A long time ago, Jack swore up and down that he had quit smoking. Funny, because when he was fishing he seemed to need to "water the daisies" more than the average man. But whatever bush he was watering always seemed to have smoke coming out of it. Strangely, the outhouse he used when camping also seemed to smell like smoke. He quit for good as a gift to Wilda for her birthday.

Before his marriage, Jack had a Dodge Super Bee (which would be worth a fortune now). He claims to have been pulled over in South Dakota going 140 mph in that car. He was nervous about maybe having to spend the night in jail for that one (he didn't). During that time in his life he was also known for his sleeveless shirts and cowboy hat. Jack was a man's man and this was the seventies.

A few years ago, for Christmas, he took Barbara to Las Vegas for a few days – just them – the last of the Kutcher bloodline. This meant a great deal to both of them.

His namesake, Jack Kutcher Sollars was born in 2002. A nephew named his new business Kutcher Construction. The family respects Jack to the point that they wanted his name carried on.

Jack's dog, Dexter, thinks that Wyoming is not as good a place without him in it. The following agree: wife Wilda Kutcher, step daughter Tomi Rawdon (Alanson), granddaughter Amanda Williams, grandson Gabriel Williams (Gerri and their five children), grandson Timothy Williams (Rosa and their two children), sister Barbara Sollars, brother-in-law Sheldon Sollars, nephew Matt Sollars, nephew Mark Sollars, and nephew Mike Sollars (Rhonda and their children Josie, Jack, and Kassidy). Jack also left behind good friends and associates at the town hall. Tomorrow morning, someone else will need to walk Dexter.

Jack's favorite place and a constant in his life were the Big Horn Mountains. He had a favorite spot to fish but we won't tell you where it is.

A memorial Service will be held for Jack 2:00 PM, Saturday, September 13, 2014 at the Antelope Park in Bar Nunn. Please bring your own lawn chair and if there is inclement weather, the service will be held at the Bar Nunn Fire Hall.

To share your memories of Jack or leave a special condolence message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.