Thomas Evan Dietz: July 3, 1953 — March 20, 2023
Thomas (Tom) Evan Dietz, 69, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away to join his Lord & Savior on March 20, 2023. Tom was born July 3, 1953 in Alpena, Michigan to Leonard R. Dietz and Shirley J. Dietz (Robinson). While growing up he was a woodworking apprentice to his dad – learning skills he would carry with him his entire career. At Alpena High School he had an amazing running prowess which made him a star athlete on the football and track teams. He began honing his musical skills as a founding member of a praise band with high school friends, making guest appearances at area churches and youth rallies. After graduating in 1971, he started working in construction.
In 1981 he moved out to Wyoming, being drawn to its majestic natural beauty. After settling down in Gillette, Tom met Deanna (Seymour) at church and they married in 1982. For 40 years, Tom was a cabinet maker and master craftsman to the community – creating beautiful pieces in homes to be cherished for years to come.
He had a great passion for giving back and making a positive impact on the lives of others, serving on mission trips throughout his life, building schools and churches in Haiti, Mexico, and drilling water wells in Tanzania. Following in his Father’s footsteps, Tom served as a Gideon for five years – an organization dedicated to distributing God’s Word around the world.
Tom loved the outdoors – he was an avid fly fisherman and took every opportunity to create lasting memories camping with his friends and family. In 2010, Tom caught the fish of a lifetime on Tie Hack Reservoir in the Big Horn Mountains – a 10 pound brown trout that he reeled in for over 45 minutes and caught with no net. He’d never admit it but, it was one of his proudest achievements.
Tom joined the Gillette Chamber Singers in the fall of 1997. During his 25+ years with the group, he toured and traveled to 11 countries, singing in beautiful cathedrals and countrysides. Tom relished his many years of making and performing music. He made lifelong friends while sharing his musicianship and laughter during every rehearsal and performance. Along with singing in the choir, at times he also accompanied the group with his guitar and bass. Tom also played bass guitar and sang with many church worship teams.
His love for God was shown through music. After decades of being a musician and woodworker, Tom combined his two crafts and began making custom acoustic guitars – creating the most beautiful and melodic instruments to be played for generations.
Tom was a beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Papa, friend and jokester – always a quiet person whose two or three word addition to any conversation would have those around him rolling with laughter.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, Jeffery Ivan. He is survived by his wife, Deanna; six children, Dana Dietz, TJ Dietz, Nicole (Kevin Grace) Dietz, Anna (Drake) Kent, Amanda (Nate) Schelling and Andrew (Ashley) Dietz; 9 grandchildren, Cameron, Trenten, Aubraeny, Kirra, Kali, Liam, Ivan, Draysen, Kellen; and 6 siblings, Doug (Carrie) Dietz, Peggy (Tom) Knoop, Sheryl (Don) Stephens, Kay (Tim) Munger, Brad (Meera) Dietz and Charlie (Kim) Dietz.
Memorials can be made in Tom’s name to the Sakila Primary School in Tanzania and The Gideons International.
Sakila hyperlink: https://www.fotzc.org/sakila
Gideon’s hyperlink: https://www.gideons.org/donate
A memorial service will be conducted for Tom at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 25, at Family Life Church of Gillette.
Wilma Carter: September 27, 1924 — March 21, 2023
Wilma Carter age 98, of Gillette, WY passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Campbell County Health.
Funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at Walker Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday, March 27, 2023 at Walker Funeral Home.
Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.
A livestream of the service can be found here.
Theresa Ann Gales: July 14, 1961 — March 20, 2023
Memorial service for Theresa Gales will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Pastor Marty Crump officiating.
Beloved mother and daughter, Theresa Ann Gales, passed away on March 20, in Colorado Springs, CO, at the age of 61. Theresa was born on July 14, 1961, to Edwin and Maria Roswold in Bad Kreuznach, Germany.
Theresa spent her childhood growing up in Germany and Holland and moved to the United States with her family at age 17.
She lived in Colorado Springs, CO, and moved to Gillette, WY. In 1983, Theresa met the love of her life and “ride-or-die” partner, Douglas Eugene Gales. They were married December 29, 1987. Together, they raised three children, including Adrian, Nicole, and Shelby.
Theresa deeply cared about her family, friends, and neighbors, and was known for helping others in need. She often showed her love through her incredible meals. She was a skilled cook, who took great pleasure in providing food that was made of quality ingredients and that took time to prepare. Her family heritage and life experiences in Europe helped shape her memorable dishes. She especially loved being able to feed the many friends of her children who found themselves at her home at mealtime. There was just one caveat, Theresa cooked, she didn’t do the dishes!
Theresa raised her children to have a strong work ethic, and measure someone by their character, not by their bank account. Theresa and Doug made sure their children had amazing memories traveling across the country, such as camping at Keyhole, experiencing the Albuquerque balloon festival, or enjoying the sights and sounds of Las Vegas.
In recent years, Theresa’s greatest joys were her grandchildren. She loved them with her whole heart, enjoyed spoiling them with presents, and of course, making them the food that she became so well-known for.
Theresa was preceded in death by Doug in January 2021 after his courageous battle with COVID-19. With a broken heart that never healed, Theresa will be laid to rest alongside Doug, to spend eternity together. Theresa is also preceded in death by her father, Edwin, and her siblings Diana and Edwin Jr.
She is survived by her mother, Maria Roswold; children: Adrian (Katy) Alvarado, Nicole (Serena) Jeffress, and Shelby (Jasmine) Kaul; grandkids: Kale, Bergen, and Vivian Alvarado, and Mordekai Kaul; brothers: Michael and Edwin (Cheri) Roswold; and numerous nieces, nephews, and life-long friends.
A livestream of the service can be seen here.
Laura Ann Luciano: February 22, 1961 — March 17, 2023
Laura A. Luciano, 62, passed away Friday, March 17, 2023, after a long battle of health issues.
A celebration of life is from 4-8 p.m. April 22 in Gillette at the Greenway Event Center (2200 Greenway Dr.). Laura was born Feb. 22, 1961, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to parents Henry and June Walker.
She was the oldest of four children and the only girl. She lived in many places like North Dakota, Indiana, and finally Texas, where she met her husband Carlos. Laura and Carlos married in December 1979.
Along with this marriage, came a daughter Maria-Emilia that Laura raised like her own from a young age. A year later Laura gave birth to a son, Carlos, followed by Jason, and then Aaron.
In 1998, the family left Wichita Falls, Texas, and moved to Gillette to be closer to Laura’s mom after her father Henry passed in January of that year. After making her home in Gillette, Laura had various different jobs and interests to keep her busy, whether she was making people smile with her flower arrangements, taking care of clients, making sure her kids were taken care of, or spoiling her grandkids. She never let anyone go without.
Laura became a grandma in 2004, to which she said “saved her life” when her first grandson was born. She loved nothing more than to spoil her grandkids by traveling to visit them and watching their sporting events. She was the fun grandma who gave them sweets for breakfast, over-the-top gifts, rang the cowbells at sporting events, had matching jerseys and even jumped on the trampoline with them. Her grandkids were one of her brightest lights.
To everyone that knew Laura she was blunt and feisty. However, she had a heart of gold and was tough on those she liked.
Laura is preceded in death by her father, Henry Walker; and grandmother, Edith (Wilson) Port.
She is survived by her husband, Carlos; four children, Maria (Mike), Carlos (Angie), Jason (Whitney), and Aaron (Kala); grandchildren, Jayden, Mercedes, Christian and Alexa; mother, June; siblings, Owen (Sherie), Frank (Shawn), and Jay (Heather); along with several other loved ones who will miss her terribly.
A wife, a mother, a grandma too, this is the legacy we have from you. You taught us love and how to fight, you gave us strength, you gave us might. A stronger person would be hard to find, and in your heart, you were always kind. You fought for us all in one way or another, not just as a wife not just as a mother. For all of us you gave your best, now the time has come for you to rest. So, go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep, your love in our hearts, we’ll eternally keep. -Author Unknown.
Condolences may be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 South Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716
