John Patrick Mullin: 1955 – 2023
John (Jack) Mullin passed away March 9, 2023, in a home explosion in Utah, injuring his wife Caryn and son Josh.
John was born April 1, 1955, which made him quite the jokester! John’s parents are Joseph (Moon) and Catherine (Kay) Mullin.
John attended St. Anthony’s, Dean Morgan and NCHS, graduating in 1973.
John met his wife Caryn at the Beacon Club during dance lessons. John and Caryn were married April 19, 1997. During their life in Casper, they decided to be professional dog breeders of pugs.
John worked many different jobs before finding his forever home at the postal service, where he worked 37 years before retiring. After retiring, John and Caryn moved to Logan, Utah, taking with them their business and continued raising and selling pugs. John and Caryn were also closer to Caryn’s family.
On Aug. 20, 2005, John had decided to be baptized as LDS. On April 18, 2008, John and Caryn were “sealed for all time and eternity” at the LDS temple in Vernal, Utah.
John enjoyed bowling, hunting, fishing and raising pugs. Caryn said he was quite the “bullshitter”!
John was preceded in death by his mom and dad, sister Linda, father-in-law and mother-in-law Joe and Dodie Wenzel.
John is survived by his wife and Caryn of 24 years, sons Jeremy and Josh Mullin and Jon (Ashlee) Calder all of Utah, four granddaughters, Bailee and Brooklyn Mullin of Casper, Wyoming, and Jaden and Amber Mullin of Shepherd, Texas, one grandson, Colton Mullin, of Joliet, Montana, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ken (Corrine) Calder, brother-in-law, Steve (Nikki) Oldham, and Jeff (Kerri) Calder, sister-in-law, Jamie (Jeff) Klassen all of Utah, sue (Jim) Brummond and his sister Connie (Dan) Hemminger of Casper, Wyoming.
John is also survived by several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews who loved him very much and have wonderful memories of him.
A memorial service is being held March 31, 2023 in Newton, Utah, at 11 a.m. The Nelson Funeral Home (162 E. 400 N.) is located in Logan, Utah. Burial will be April 3, 2023, in Dry Fort, Utah.
GoFundMe has been set up by Ashlee Calder for funeral and medical expenses.
Paul J. Graff: 1944 – 2023
Father. Husband. Patriot. Geologist.
Paul J. Graff, 78, of Casper, Wyoming, was born in Lyons, Nebraska, on Dec. 10, 1944, to Orin and Dolores Graff and passed away on March 2, 2023. He grew up in Stuart and Atkinson, Nebraska, and Forreston, Illinois, where his father pastored Presbyterian churches. In 1963, he graduated from Forreston High School, then attended Highland Community College at Freeport, Illinois.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966 and served with the 82nd and 173rd airborne units. During his time in Vietnam, Paul was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “v” for valor for battlefield actions.
On Aug. 24, 1968, he married Lois Devries.
Utilizing the G.I. Bill, he received this bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from Northern Illinois University and later continued his education at the University of Wyoming to earn a Ph.D. in geology. Paul established his geological consulting firm, Research Associates of Wyoming, in 1979 and felt privileged to “look at rocks” throughout the western U.S., Taiwan, and Chile. While working in Alaska, he was a member of the group who discovered the Donlin Creek gold deposit and received they Thayer Lindsley International Mineral Discovery award in 2009.
Paul was a member of the Wyoming Geological Association and Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, where he served on the Session and enjoyed working on the church’s property.
Being a runner and relishing a physical challenge, in 2013 Paul made a parachute jump from a plane that had dropped troops on Normandy; he considered this a hallowed experience. Paul was creative and imaginative, using these traits to design and construct remodeling projects, write humorous poetry, and compose the family Christmas letter. He treasured his friendships and truly appreciated the talents and personalities of others.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Graff, and a niece.
Survivors included his wife, Lois; a daughter, Jill Graff of Douglas, Wyoming; three sons, Mark (Cheryl) and Greg (Heidi) both of Casper, Wyoming, and Eric (Josie Heath) of Boise, Idaho; one grandson, Jason. He is also survived by his siblings: David (Cheryl) Graff of Baileyville, Illinios; Deborah (Gary) Kilian of Lincoln, Nebraska; Elizabeth (Sam) Shotts of Highland Village, Texas; Steve (Ann) Graff and Philip Graff both of Sedalia, Missouri. Other survivors include his father-in-law and brother-in-law, Lloyd and Larry Devries of Shannon, Illinios, as well as 16 nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Sheppard of the Hills Presbyterian Church, 4600 S. Poplar in Casper, Wyoming. A memorial fund has been established.
Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper.
Caroline Stapert: 1938 – 2023
Caroline Stapert peacefully passed away in her sleep on March 26, 2023, at the age of 85, with her daughter Jan at her side.
Mom was born on March 14, 1938, in Independence, Missouri, to John and Clarice Webster. She spent her younger years on a ranch just outside of Meeteetse, Wyoming, before moving to Billings, Montana, to attend school. Mom graduated high school in 1956, then went on to the University of Wyoming, and earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bill Stapert on a blind date. They were married on June 16, 1960, and were married for 56 years until Bill’s death in 2017. They had three children, Scott, Jan and Mark.
Mom and Dad made our home in Laramie where Mom worked in the medical field, and Dad was an assistant manager at a lumber yard. In April 1975, they purchased Hallock’s Paint Store in Casper, Wyoming, and together became successful business people. They ran Stapert’s, The Paint Store for nearly 20 years.
Mom was an avid bowler and golfer, and huge Wyoming Cowboys football fan. She was a volunteer at the Wyoming Medical Center for over 20 years.
She was a member of the Cornerstone Evangelical Church for over 40 years, attending services from when they rented out the Casper Women’s Clubhouse, to being involved in the construction of the building that the church is in to this day. She loved her church family and was heavily involved in many aspects of the needs of the church.
In 2019, Mom took her dream trip to Israel and was baptized in the Jordan River. In 2020, at the young age of 82, she went skydiving and ziplining. Towards the end of her life, it was always the mention of skydiving that would still bring a smile to her face.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister; and her husband, Bill after 56 years of marriage.
Mom is survived by her children, Scott, Jan (Mike) Schoolcraft, and Mark (Kelly) Stapert; four grandchildren, Balea (Daniel) Olson, Ashlee (Zac) Lowndes, Brittany (Jeff) Wenke, Serena Stapert; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, March 31, at Cornerstone Evangelical Church, 4100 Casper Mountain Road. Reception will follow the service.
The family would also like to thank the staff at Meadow Winds Assisted Living for taking such good care of Mom for the past year and a half.
Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper.
Michele Carter: 1971 – 2023
Mona “Michele” Carter, age 51, was born July 26, 1971, in Charleston, South Carolina. She passed away In Casper, Wyoming, on March 28, 2023.
Michele did not have it easy growing up. She struggled most of her life with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, autism, ADHD and alcoholism. Despite struggling with many different ailments, Michele passed away with ten years clean and sober and in May 2009 she graduated from Casper College with an associates in pre-med. She was a true miracle to be witness to in regards to her recovery and her life.
Michele was a kind, strong and loving soul. What made her quirky and different to most people were the things we all grew to love about her. She was a talented artist and she loved music, poetry, writing and playing bingo. She was always creating something whether it was a drawing in her sketchbook or picking up wood burning or carving. She was funny but had a warped sense of humor that not everyone understood. She was intelligent, complex, eccentric and had a mischievous sparkle in her eye (when you caught her without her sunglasses on). Having been through more trauma and loss than I can even imagine, Michele kept her walls up with most people but those that she did let in she would do anything for. Michele loved her partner Jamie and their fur-babies Zeek (cat) and Littlebit (dog) with every ounce of her being and her goofy personality and off the wall stories she liked to tell will be forever missed.
Michele is survived by her partner Jamie Campbell, her mother Jenny Schultz, Colorado, and her father Bruce Carter Jr., Tennessee, her brother Chad Carter and his wife Kellee Carter,Montana, grandmother Betty Schultz, her two uncles Michael and Ivan Schultz and her aunt Jill Schultz, Charleston, South Carolina.
She is preceded in death by her grandfather and her fur-babies Rebus and Sookie (cats), and TyTy and Drake (dogs).
Michele’s celebration of life will be on Sunday, April 3, at Troopers Bingo from 1 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers Jamie requests that you please donate to the GoFundMe titled “Michele Carter” or venmo Jamie directly at jdemaine, to assist the family with funeral costs and medical bills.
