Christopher Tamlin

Christopher Wayne Tamlin, age 35, passed away June 8, 2016 at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, WY. Chris was found Monday evening, unresponsive by his roommate Allen. Chris never regained consciousness, spoke, or opened his eyes again. On Tuesday evening he was diagnosed with a massive stroke that affected his sight, speech (both ability to speak and ability to understand being spoken to) and was paralyzed on his right side. His brain began to swell late Tuesday and family was summoned to the hospital. Chris passed away early Wednesday morning with his family in attendance. Chris was born January 29, 1981 in Ft. Collins, CO. He was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 13 months of age which profoundly effected the rest of his life. He require daily shots (sometimes more than once) and frequently testing blood sugars. He had regular visits to the Barbara Davis Center for Juvenille Diabetes. He couldn't spend the night with friends until he learned to give himself his shots. He only needed hospitalization one other time and that was at age 2 for dehydration from the flu. He also required snacks regularly throughout the day which was sometimes challenging and try as he might he never did put on much weight. He met Jeremy when he was 2. They met in daycare and became best buddies. It turned out they were only 9 days apart in age. This friendship eventually, (through divine intervention) led to Jerry and Susan getting married and he got a "big" brother in a family of four. In 1987, the family moved to Torrington, WY. Chris enjoyed the small town atmosphere of Torrington and for years wanted to be a farmer. He was able to roam town on his bike with his best friend (the son of the Chief of Police). He played baseball, soccer and was a cub scout. In 1989 he became a big brother when Betsy was born. Chris was good at helping take care of his sister (although he wasn't impressed with his first sight of her). While he didn't always enjoy babysitting he compensated by teasing her shamelessly. After a brief move to New Mexico and back to Torrington, Chris moved with his family to Evanston, WY. There he got to be quarterback on his football team, and his baseball career blossomed. He made it on the All Star team and got to play in the State finals. He played second base and sometimes pitcher. While there, he learned to play the baritone and trumpet. The family once again had to move in 1995 and he had to cut his baseball career short. This time we were off to Casper. This was a hard move for Chris. He started 9th grade at Dean Morgan but after a week switched to Centennial. He then went to Kelly Walsh for high school. He played golf on the high school team and during the summer attended a FCA golf camp in Monterey, CA. He enjoyed wood shop and did very well in biology at KW. He was not overly excited about getting his driver's license, but eventually did and then there was no keeping track of him. He got a part time job at Perkins and began dating. In the fall of 1998 he moved in with a couple of friends but continued to go to high school and worked at Arby's. He completed his high school requirements in January of 1999 and marched with his class May. In April of that year he became a daddy to Kalee Beth. He was so excited. Almost the minute after she was born he was at his parents' house pounding on the door to tell them he had a girl, then back to the hospital. He worked full time and at times two jobs to provide for his new family. He took an active role in taking care of Kalee, even changing diapers. In August he married Kalee's mother Nicolette Wenger. For the next couple of years he had many jobs. One was painting airplanes in Afton, WY, but the family was homesick for family in Casper and they returned. He worked at Michael's Fencing, Arby's and he and Nicki would work weekends at Hogadon during ski season. They eventually bought a house and had some remodeling projects they attempted. He also finally got his motorcycle! Unfortunately, things did not work out, and Chris found himself moving alone to Colorado (Ft. Collins area) and lived with his maternal grandparents for awhile. He eventually moved back to Casper, then to Texas, back to Colorado (Milliken), Greeley, Ft. Collins and back to Casper. Throughout most of his life he had a close relationship with his maternal grandparents and was deeply saddened with the passing of his grandmother last Thanksgiving. The next few years found Chris searching for a career that he enjoyed and family of his own. He saw Kalee when he could. He had many jobs during this time, he drove for Fed Ex, he painted firetrucks, sold frozen meat door to door, tended bar at Applebee's (when he also briefly tried to sell Avon as well), CNA at Shepherd Valley, construction (after receiving training through a McMurry grant), sheet rocking, delivered pizzas, worked with Now Cap and eventually landed a job with the US Post Office which he truly loved. During this time he frequently shared a house with Allen McConnell in Casper. They were roommates in between one or the other following a girl to another state. He took online classes and achieved an Associate's Degree in Health Administration. He was engaged for awhile but just weeks before the wedding was called off. The last few years he has lived with his best friend of many years, Allen, and worked as a mail carrier. He enjoyed being able to work outside and interacting with the people along his route. He took pride in being efficient at working his route and made many new friends at work. He enjoyed making friends and having people over to his house. He loved to cook and come up with his own recipes, sometimes posting pictures on Facebook of the ingredients and before and after of the final dish. For awhile everyone anxiously awaited "what's for dinner tonight?". He began gardening to supplement his cooking. He and Allen bought a couple of boats and worked on fixing them up. He enjoyed going out sometimes and dancing or singing Karoke, especially after enjoying a couple of drinks. He won the Karoke contest at his work Christmas party a couple years back. Last summer he adopted two puppies and finally fulfilled a dream of having one dog named Aichi and one Wawa so when he called them he could say "Aichiwawa!". He really enjoyed "his girls" as he called them even when they weren't the best behaved. He was able to stop smoking last fall after nearly 20 years. He enjoyed video games, especially war games and one where he could be a pilot and fly a jet. He loved being able to do anything outside: fishing, hunting, golf, floating the river. Most of all spending time with friends. Chris left us way too early. He leaves a hole in many hearts. He will be missed as a son, a brother, a friend, a father, a grandson, an uncle, a cousin, a coworker. He is survived by his parents, Jerry and Susan Tamlin, brother Jeremy (Brooke) Tamlin, sister Betsy (Keith) Sparling, daughter Kalee (17 years), son Tyler (9 years), grandfather Gary Sauder, grandparents Richard and Maxine Tamlin, grandparents Dave and Darlene Leuker, 4 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by grandmother Sherry Sauder.