Joann Schulenberg

Joann Eleanor (Knox) Schulenberg, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2018, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She had lived at Shepherd of the Valley Healthcare Community for the past five years, before being transferred to Central Wyoming Hospice, Kloefkorn Home on January 2, 2018. She was 86 years old. Joann was born in Forsyth, Montana on February 28, 1931 to Robert Leonidas and Nettie Landis (Noyes) Knox. Joann first met her husband, Walter Andrew Schulenberg when she was two and he was four. Their mothers became friends, and often spent afternoons together. Joann was never really sure that it should be told, but she and Walt slept together at those tender young ages, when they took naps together, while their moms visited. After those early years, she and Walt didn't spend much time together, and at one point, Joann didn't think she liked Walt very much, but before long, he won her heart, and the rest was life...happily ever after. Growing up in rural Montana, Joann discovered her love of horses. She would rather have been on a horse, than anywhere else in the world. Joann had several horses that she really loved...among them were Molly, Star, and Bing, who she helped to break. Joann loved to go riding to friends homes and anywhere else she could think of. She would have been on her beloved horses all day if she could have. Of course, we all know that kids have to go to school, and we were surprised to find out how much of a joiner she was. She was a member of the Glee Club, the Dramatics Club, the basketball team, and she was an office aid. She was elected Senior Class President of the Class of 1949 at Colstrip High School in Colstrip, Montana. While all that was surprising, we were especially surprised to find out that she was a member of the Baton Twirling team. It was a good thing that the family lived in Colstrip at that time, because she was a very busy girl. At some point Joann got reacquainted with Walt Schulenberg, and try as she might, she could not resist his charm. They were married on June 6, 1949 in Forsyth, Montana. Over the next 19 years, they added six children to their family. Joann was a stay-at-home mom for all of her married life, which lasted one month short of 64 years, until Walt's passing on May 5, 2013. During her marriage, she supplemented the family income by sewing shirts for many people in the community. She once made a set of 10 matching western shirts for the boys and 3 matching dresses for the girls of family friends, the Cross family; several wedding dresses, including her daughter, Debbie's; and she did sewing for Mrs McDaniel, which sort of connected her with her future daughter-in-law, Caryn's family. Joann also knitted, making beautiful sweaters, hats, and coats, which she sold to many people in the area. Besides her knitting prowess, she was an expert in crochet. She made more afghans than any of us could ever begin to count. She made pot holders and dish cloths as well, and her items were great sellers at many craft fairs over the years. She did love those craft fairs! They gave her a much needed chance to socialize. Every summer, as the children were growing up, Joann canned 100 quarts of each vegetable from their garden, as well as canned meats and fruit. After Walt's retirement, Joann and Walt spent a number of winters in Yuma, Arizona, escaping the cold. While Joann enjoyed her time in Arizona, packing and unpacking for those trips was not high on her list of enjoyable things to do. As their health deteriorated, Joann and Walt stayed in Casper, Wyoming to be near family, and it was here that their final years were spent. Joann started showing signs of Alzheimer's Disease in 2004, and has since fought a number of long hard battles in the area of her health. She moved to Shepherd of the Valley Healthcare Community on January 6, 2013, and while Alzheimer's took much of her recent memories as it progressed, Joann held on to her old memories almost to the end. She was a people watcher, and she really enjoyed the busyness of the South Station, where she lived; as well as the Sunday night Ice Cream Social. She really loved her ice cream. She was a fighter, and she bounced back numerous times throughout the progression of Alzheimer's. Her final battle found her tired of fighting, and she passed away peacefully at 86 years old, on January 4, 2018 at Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper. Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Nettie Knox, her husband, Walt Schulenberg, daughter, Marlyce Schulenberg, granddaughter, Nancy Cook, and her sister, Linda (Bobby) Cole and sister-in-law Marion (John) Kanta. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Kountz; sister-in-law, Esther Hein; brothers-in-law, Andrew (Charlys) Schulenberg, Edward (Pearl) Hein, and Bernard Hein; her daughters, Debbie (LJ) Cook, Jennifer (Brian Cratty) Parmely, and Brenda Schulenberg, sons, Robert (Caryn) Schulenberg and Ron (Rachel) Schulenberg. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren, Corrie (Kevin) Petersen, Amy (Travis) Royce, Machelle (Steve) Moore, Barry (Kelli) Schulenberg, Susan (Josh) Griffith, JD Parmely, Eric (Ashley) Parmely, Cassie (Chris) Iverson, Riley Birky, and Tucker Birky. She was also blessed with 13 great grandchildren, Chris Petersen ( with whom she shared her birthday), Shai Royce, Caalab Royce, Josh Petersen, Weston Moore, Jala Satterwhite, Easton Moore, Kaytlyn Griffith, Lucas Iverson, Reagan Parmely, Hattie Parmely, Zoey Iverson, and Bowen Parmely; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In June of 2018, Joann would have become a great great grandmother, when her great grandson, Chris Petersen and his fiancée, Karen Cruickshank become the parents of a sweet baby girl. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Word Christian Fellowship church at the corner of 12th and Melrose in Casper, Wyoming, burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery. The family would like to thank Dr. Joseph Schoeber, Dr. Michael Wilkinsen, Dr. Jerry Larsen, the nurses, CNAs, and staff at Shepherd of the Valley Healthcare Community, and the nurses, CNAs, and staff at Central Wyoming Hospice for their loving care of our Mom over the years. Donations can be made to Central Wyoming Hospice, 319 S Wilson Street, Casper, WY 82601.

Service

Friday, January 12, 2018 2:00pm

Word Fellowship Church

1220 S. Melrose

Casper, Wyoming 82609

Visitation

Thursday, January 11, 2018 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601