Lester Obert

Lester G. Obert Jr. is finally at peace after his long battle with Parkinson’s disease with Lewy Body dementia. He passed away April 18th, 2021.  Les was a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He held three college degrees, was a college professor, pilot, sheriff’s deputy, judge, historian, veteran, tour bus driver, and rebuilt three vastly different types of vehicles. He loved a good western book and loved learning. Les could always be found with a book close to his side, generally a mystery or a western.

Les was born to Lester and Jessie (Meyenfeldt) Obert November 28th, 1935 at his grandmother’s house in North Casper. He graduated from Natrona County High School in 1954. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1955 and served until 1959. He returned to Casper and went to work as a police officer for the Casper Police Department. During this time, he also attended and graduated from Casper College, he then went to Provo, Utah to attend Brigham Young University, graduating in 1970 with a Master’s Degree  in Sociology. After graduation, he served on the Wyoming Governor’s Planning Committee on Criminal Administration in Cheyenne. He returned to Casper to teach at Casper College as an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology. He also began serving on the Natrona County Sheriff’s Department as an evening deputy. This led to him also becoming a Judge for the Town of Bar Nunn.

While serving as a Sheriff’s Deputy his skills were heavily used as a pilot, especially for fire watch and searches. His love of flight led him to restore a Piper Cub.

Teaching became his great passion, and he even began the Criminal Justice Club at Casper College. Les retired from Casper College in 1995 after teaching there for 25 years. To this day, alumni and staff at Casper College remember him. You could always tell how someone knew Les, if he was Judge Obert or Officer Obert, it was from law enforcement, if it was Les it was from the college.

One of Les’ other loves was history. He researched and taught others the history of places and events from Wyoming to Alaska. Right after retirement, he restored a 1950 Mercury coup which he then went on to enter and even win many awards at car shows around the country.

Les and Donna’s passion together was travel. They converted a Greyhound Bus into a motorhome for their adventures. After he retired, he combined his loves of learning and travel and dove headfirst into genealogy. His searches led him from coast to coast and all places in between, as this was long before the internet.

Lester met Betty (Fox) in 1959, they were married in 1960. Les and Betty were blessed with three daughters Faith Erin, Alicia Dawn and Angela Lesley. He later met and married Donna (Carter) in June of 1980 and gained a fourth daughter, Jody .He was preceded in death by his parents Lester Sr. and Jessie Obert and one great grandson. He is survived by his wife Donna, daughters Erin Robinett, Alicia Hickson, Angela (John) Young, Jody (Shane) Mooney, 7 granddaughters and one grandson and 13 great grandchildren.

The Family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Shepard of the Valley for the care and love that not only Les, but the entire family, was given while he was in their care.

Funeral services will be held at the chapel of the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery at 1 p.m. on April 28th , with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home , 600 CY Avenue, Casper, WY 82601.