John Irwin

Services will be held at the Light House Baptist Church on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 10:00 am. Viewing will be at Bustards Funeral Home Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 1:00 pm till 8:00 pm. Interment will be at the Memorial Gardens Cemetery after the service. On May 24, 2011, John L. Irwin Jr., at the age of 84, peacefully passed on to our Lord att he Life Care Center in Casper Wyoming. John was born in Casper on March 12, 1927 to his parents John L. Irwin Sr. and Mabel Irwin (Patchen). During his early childhood they lived north of Casper on the Patchen homestead. In 1943 John joined the Navy and served our nation in World War II. At the age of seventeen, he was the youngest member of the crew and officers of the ship LST 616. Upon his return from the Navy he entered into the construction trade and worked on the Boysen Dam. On October 4, 1947, John married Dorothy E. Beyer of Casper. They had four sons, John L. Irwin III, J. Stephen Irwin, Robin L. Irwin, and Leon W. Irwin. One of his favorite times was spending the summer at Alcova Lake, helping teach his sons to water ski and fish. During the winter, as each son became of age, he would take them elk hunting and ice fishing. All of his sons can remember that one of the main reasons for going hunting and fishing with dad was his homemade pancakes and chicken and noodles. John and Dorothy Irwin were to later divorce. John was in a partnership with John Dodds and they operated Casper Tin/Natrona Roofing. They remained partners until 2006. John's good friend and long time employee, Jerry Feezer, recalls John Irwin as being the only boss he knew since 1953. On September 10, 1969, John remarried, this time to Sophie Saya Svilar of Hudson, Wyoming. Together they raised Sophie's niece and her two nephews north of Casper. It was a happy union with a readymade family. It was during this time that John came to the Lord through his good friend, Preacher Bill Lystlund at the Light House Baptist Church. To anybody who knew him, John's true passion was flying. In May of 1967 he and his partner, Marvin Gilbert, built a small airport and landing field north of town and called it Harford Airfield. At one time or another John owned many different types and sizes of planes in which he flew family members on vacations, and members of the Casper Parachute Club for sky diving on weekends and even the U.S. Wildlife Service counting antelope from the air. Over the years, John had acquired many different FAA rating and had logged over 10,000 hours in his planes. John established Irwin's Sky Ranch in the 1980's and he enjoyed flying with his son Robin in the Red Desert area, hunting coyotes and helping local ranchers find their livestock from the air. In 1988 John obtained permission from the Bar Nunn School and the FAA to land his helicopter on the school playground and pick up his grandson, Dejoe on the last day of shool. Imagine the joy of getting picked up in a helicopter in front of the whole school. Doing the little extra was the trademark of John Irwin. John loved German shepherd dogs and would always name his dogs after the planes he flew. He is survived by his sister, Shirley Glazebrook of Hayden, Idaho, four sons and their families, John L. Irwin III (DeNeil) of Phoenix, AZ, Steve Irwin ( Diane) of Casper, Robin Irwin (Pam) of Casper, Leon Irwin of Kirwin, KS, stepchildren Deb Svilar Smith (Dennis) of Casper, Dan Svilar (Shelly) or Moses Lake, WA, Tom Svilar of Rock Springs, WY. Grandchildren, Ashley Cardenas, Jamie Hazelton, John L. Irwin IV, Heather Irwin, Mandy Irwin, Kimberly Purdy, Joni Martinez, Sesha Irwin, Shawn Mullins, Serena Irwin, Nicholas Irwin, Jared Irwin, Dejoe Smith, 20 great grandchildren, and one greatgreat- grandchild. John is preceded in death by his parents, and loving wife Sophie. He will truly be missed by all those whose lives he touched as well as all of his friends across Wyoming. Memorials to honor John L. Irwin Jr. may be made to the Light House Baptist Church of Casper, Wyoming.