Norman Stinnette

Norman Stinnette

Norman Stinnette, age 82, passed
away on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at
Wyoming Medical Center in Casper,
Wyoming from complications from
pulmonary fibrosis.

He was born at home on the farm
his dad homesteaded, located about


7 miles northwest of Wauneta, Nebraska. While
growing up, he attended a country school where one
teacher taught grades one through eight in a one room
building. There wasn't any electricity in the area and
no running water. All of the kids in the neighborhood
either walked to and from school, rode horses, or
drove a horse hooked to a buggy.

Upon graduation from the eighth grade, he attended
high school in Wauneta. He was unable to complete
all 4 years as World War II had broken out, so he
stayed home to help on the family farm.

At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Merchant
Marines. He completed the initial training at Catalina
Island and awaited assignment in San Francisco to his
first ship on V.J. Day. For most of the next two years he
sailed to China, Japan, Korea, Alaska, the Philippine
Islands, New Caledonia, Central and South America,
through the Panama Canal twice, and up the east coast
to Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City.

Upon completion of his tour of duty, he was given
a discharge and advised he had served his tour of duty
for his country. He went back to his old high school
in Wauneta to see about completing his education.
He was advised he would be 21 years old before he
graduated, and so he couldn't do it. He worked at odd
jobs and went to many rodeos where he rode bareback
horses, saddle broncs, and Brahma bulls.

In July of 1948, the Civil Service Commission no
longer recognized the Merchant Marine as a service,
making him eligible for the draft. He was later
drafted by the Army during the Korean War where he
was stationed at the 65th Combat Engineer Battalion
attached to the 25th Division, which built supply
roads to and along the front lines, as well as artillery
and tank employments.

After completing his tour of duty and being
honorably discharged, he still wanted to pursue his
education. He wanted to be a veterinarian, so he went
to Fort Collins, Co. to see if it was possible. They
advised that they couldn't let him in veterinarian
school without a high school diploma. They said that
if he could pass the entrance exams, they would let
him in the School of Agriculture. With nothing to
lose, he took and passed the exam and graduated 4
years later.

Jobs were scarce out of graduation, so he went
to work for the Soil Conservation Service as a Soil
Scientist in Wyoming. He did this for about 5 years and
then transferred to the Farmers Home Administration
where he worked in Wheatland, Douglas, Torrington,
and then to Casper where he rose to the Farmer's
Program Chief. He was in charge of all farm and
ranch loans in Wyoming. He retired in 1985 and set
up in own farm and ranch appraisal business until his
wife's death, the former Janet Krotter of Palisades,
NE, in 1997.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet, his
parents, three sisters – Ella, Etta Mae, and Glenda,
seven brothers – Ray, Otto, Francis, Orville, Murville,
Lester, and Verl, and one granddaughter – Nikki.

He is survived by three sons – Doug of Casper,
Jay of Riverton, and Allen of Seattle, and a daughter,
Susan Sutherland, of Green River; 10 grandchildren
and 3 great grandchildren.

The funeral will be held on Saturday at 2:30 at
Highland Park Community Church, 411 S. Walsh Dr.,
Casper. The family will receive friends at the church
from noon Saturday until service time. Interment will
follow at Wyoming Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Reception will follow the interment at the church.

Arrangements under the direction of Newcomer
Funeral Home.