John Edward Gerrells

A life filled with love, support, and generosity towards others, hunting, trailing, outdoor activities, and some fast talking, began August 19,1950, when John Edward was born to Edward and Anastasia (Wennemar) Gerrells in Billings, Mont. John was the 2nd of four children. He started his schooling at Holy Rosary Catholic School and then moved to St. Pius Catholic School in Billings. The family later moved to Bridger, Mont., where he graduated from Bridger High School. 

Growing up, John spent time hunting and fishing with Ed & Tom Gerrells, and spent time at one of his favorite places, Uncle Dave and Aunt Dorothy Strobel's cattle ranch with cousins Mary and Pam, in Terry, Mont. If he was outside, he was happy. John worked 61+ years, starting at the age of 14 at Don's IGA in Bridger for Don Kraske and ending with HSC Fairgrounds August 31, 2025. While waiting to turn 18, to join the US Navy after graduation, he spent time working at the cattle ranch.

John's enlistment in the US Navy began September 3, 1968. His four years in the Navy included two Vietnam tours, both clear & muddy water. In 1972, he was Honorably Discharged, receiving 3 Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was the recipient of a Quilt of Valor in 2023 and he traveled with the Victory of Valor Tour in 2025.

Following discharge, he returned once again to the ranch. Although he would have loved staying there forever, he knew he was destined for something different, not more, just different. John moved to Thermopolis in 1973 and remained there, making it his forever home. He has always said, "There is no better place to live than Thermopolis, Wyoming."

John returned to work for his former employer, Don Kraske, at Don's IGA, as well as tending bar every once in a while in downtown Thermopolis. He reconnected with childhood friends, Pat and Patty Collins, who he quickly found out conveniently lived in Shoshoni. He met and began spending time with Jeannette Bender. John and Jeannette married August 31, 1974. In July 1975, their daughter, Kymberlee, joined sisters Jodi and Dawn, quickly becoming a family of five. John and Jeannette raised their family in Thermopolis, divorcing in 1989.

John was so very proud of his family. He was the best dad, papa, gong gong, great grandpa, and mentor anyone could ask for. He knew where you put your focus, you got the best reward. 

John's work life included being a butcher and a baker at the IGA, a stint with R&S, decades as manager of VFW Post #2281, where he intended to be a lifetime member. He formed a friendship, partnership and mischief making couple with Clay VanAntwerp. They ran a successful contract fencing company for a few years. He then became the buffalo whisperer for Red Canyon Buffalo Ranch. Here he let everyone know his success working with buffalo was knowing he could get buffalo to do whatever buffalo wanted to do exactly when they decided to do it. He ran a water truck in the oil field and then delivered mail on a 474 mile daily round trip route for USPS contract companies for 6 years. A blessing in disguise came when that endeavor ended and he began working as the HSC Fairgrounds Manager. During this time, he was able to form great relationships with county fair families, organizations running events at the fairgrounds year round and annual event participants in rodeos, derbies, cuttings, gymkhanas, and ropings.

Now to even better stuff! John was one of Santa Claus's very special helpers. For several years, throughout the community, he visited children delivering a present from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. What started out as 5 to 10 children the first Christmas Eve, with a time commitment of about 3 hours, turned into him having to recruit Jerry Kobielusz to be another special helper, and they each visited children for 6 hours Christmas Eve. During the Christmas seasons of 1999 & 2000, he was the mall Santa Claus.

He was a horse trader and an entrepreneurial fellow. If there was a way to gain interest in anything, he would come up with it. Football boards were one of his favorite hobbies. If you know, you know. Horses, mules, and driving wagons were also a way for him to generate excitement. 

John was always community minded. He was always trying to figure out how he could leave a place better than he found it. John had attended auctioneering school in the late 80s. He supported an auction, an estate sale, here and there. He really stepped up his game when he decided to start putting information he'd gotten from his auctioneer magazine to work. He coupled a fund raiser for the HSCHS Seniors going to Australia with a cookie jar auction. Following this fund raising event, the focus of the cookie jar auctions was to assist financially with health care needs. This simple idea became a community event. The success of the cookie jar auctions had three ingredients; cookie jars, great auctioneers and team members, and the people of Hot Springs County. He whole heartedly hopes this is something that will continue.

He was preceded in death by his parents; many family members including 3 nieces (Teesdale) and great grandson Lawrence 'Ren' Blake Eastlund; his horse, Shadow; and faithful companions, Dusty and Nessi.

His is survived by his sisters, Dorothy Teesdale, Tonya Davidson, Stasi Weimer and spouses; children, Jodi Bender, Dawn Gerrells, Kymberlee Oliver, Kendra Kimes (Doug), John Geis, Janea Peterson (Hunter); grandchildren, Cayla Thorpe, Lain Thorpe, Joshua Frazier (Morgan), Rashal Williams (Tanner), Birch Jones (Erica), RyeAnn Williams (Natalie), Rashan Williams (Andrew), Dreama Thorpe, Niklaus, Adeline, and Elijah Kimes, Juniper Peterson; 15 great-grandchildren; countless nieces, nephews and cousins; his life long dear friends Pat & Patty Collins; the faithful Rosie; and his perpetual partner in crime, Clay VanAntwerp.

Services were held Wednesday, May 13 at First Baptist Church followed by graveside services at Monument Hill Cemetery.