Shirl Lane Hult

God needed a great teacher to join His staff and called Shirl home on Sunday, August 3, 2014 to fill the position.

Shirl Chmielewski was born in Trenton, NJ on October 31, 1952 to Frank and Shirley Chmielewski. Her childhood was spent near the waters of the Atlantic Ocean where she learned a love for the outdoors and the value of great friends and family. Shirl graduated from high school in 1970 and then went on to New England College in New Hampshire. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Education in 1974, and later received a Master's degree in Education from Leslie College.
Shirl married Joe Gallo in 1975. They moved to Casper, WY in 1975, where Shirl began a long teaching career. Shirl taught at Southridge Elementary School for 19 years, Fort Casper School for 2 years and retired from the Oregon Trail School. Children and teaching were her joy and passion and she embraced that joy until the time of her death.

Shirl's husband Joe died in 1977, leaving Shirl a widow way too soon. Through mutual friends of theirs, she was introduced to Paul S. Hult in 1978. Love's Arrow struck her again and she and Paul were married on August 18, 1984. Their marriage, which lasted almost 30 years, blessed them with one son, Kyle, who was born in January, 1991. Shirl loved her family more than anything in the world. (Ask anyone fortunate enough to be on her Christmas list!)
In addition to teaching, Shirl worked side by side with Paul, building their construction company (Hult Construction) into a very successful business. She was an officer of the company, office administrator and book keeper for Hult Construction at the time of her death.

When it came to planning trips to the lake with family and friends, Shirl was the "go-to" person. She never lost contact with her beginnings and regularly planned trips back to New Jersey to visit. She enjoyed her four-legged friends almost as much as they enjoyed her. In short, Shirl's life centered around the people she chose to call family and friend. Those of us fortunate enough to be a part of Shirl's life know exactly how much that meant.

Shirl was preceded in death by her mother and father, her first husband Joe and her most loved companion "Harley the Wonder Dog." She is survived by her husband Paul and their son Kyle of Casper, her brother Rick from South Carolina, her sister Kim from New Jersey, her god children Candice, Brekken and Kason Stevens of Casper, as well as her legacy of students and volume of friends.

Shirl was a huge supporter of the Arts for many years and truly enjoyed the Stage III plays. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Shirl's memory to Stage III Theatre; 900 Center Street; Casper, WY 82601.

Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 pm on August 8, 2014 at Newcomer Funeral Home Chapel followed by a celebration of Shirl's life at the Hult residence. A private burial will be held for family at a later date and time.

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