Jeffrey Jelskey

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jeffery G. "Jeff" Jelskey will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in the John F. Welsh Auditorium at Natrona County High School. A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m,. Monday at Bustards Funeral Home. Jeff passed away suddenly at his home Sunday, May 14, 2017. Those attending are encouraged to wear tie dye. He was born Dec. 5, 1963, the youngest child of Ron and Gloria (Gorley) Jelskey in Bettendorf, Iowa. In 1973, the family moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada where he graduated from Lord Beaverbrook High School in 1983. He played junior football in Canada and returned to the United States under a football scholarship at Minot State University in Minot, N.D., from 1986 to 1991, where he played as an offensive lineman and consistently started with his good friend Mark "Mundo" Munday and later served as an graduate assistant coach. He was the captain his junior and senior year and was named all-conference his senior year. He took 2nd place in the state recreational basketball tournament in North Dakota. Jeff moved to Casper in 1992 to teach at Flight School, which closed before the school year began. He was then hired on to teach Modern American History at Natrona County High School and coached soccer at NC and football at Dean Morgan Junior High School. He was a founding teacher of NCHS lab school, which provided a supportive, structured environment for at-risk students. He also taught Personal and Social Responsibility classes where he shared with students the value of community service and showed them a better way to live. He gave his summers teaching summer school every year to make sure kids got their credits to graduate. In 2004, he married Cyndee Jensen and became a step-father to her children Cara, Ryan and Cami. They later moved to Lake Havasu, Ariz., where he taught from 2005 to 2007 and was head coach for the soccer team there. After his divorce in he moved to Denver where he taught at Rock Canyon High School in Lone Tree, Colo. In 2008, he returned to Natrona County High School, where he continued to teach until his death. Jeff was a very passionate teacher who loved engaging in vigorous debate with his students and colleagues using sarcasm and humor to make a point. It was not uncommon for Jeff to walk in on another teacher and bring his insight to their classes. His teaching methods utilized music, movies, television, and other cultural means to bring history to life for his students. He was a passionate sports fan who dearly loved his Calgary Flames, and Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Cubs. Much of the state of Wyoming knew from his shouting when the Bears would lose (which was often) and when his Cubs finally won the World Series. He faithfully attended every NC theatre production and Film Festival and displayed their posters on his classroom walls. Jeff was always a supporter of the underdog student and would do anything for a kid in need. He was instrumental in bringing Vietnam veterans into the school to share their experiences with students. He was extremely generous with his time, money, and resources and never expected repayment. Instead, he insisted you pay it forward. His presence at NC and in the lives of his family and friends will be forever missed and never forgotten. He was preceded by his parents; sister, Karen Ann Jelskey; his brother's partner Louise Laliberte; and his schnauzer, Max. He is survived by his brothers, Mark and Ron Jelskey and a nephew Skipton Jelskey, all of Calgary; aunt and uncle Gail and Galen Jelskey of Tampa, Fla.; step-children Cara Cox of Denver, Ryan Cox of Phoenix, and Cami Cox of Casper; and his blind, diabetic dog, Murphy. In lieu of flowers, family and friends ask for donations in his name to the NCHS Jean's Angel Fund, 930 S. Elm Casper, WY 82601. Charitable donations may be made to: Jean's Angel Fund 930 S. Elm, Casper WY 82601 Tel: 1-307-253-1524

Service

Tuesday, May 23, 2017 4:00pm

Natrona County High School

930 South Elm Street

Csasper, Wyoming 82604

Visitation

Monday, May 22, 2017 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601