Michelle Marie Gamroth was born February 25, 1968 in Portland, Oregon and 28 days later was adopted into the Patrick and Lydia Gamroth family with brothers Kevin and Brian. The family moved to Wyoming in the early 70’s and settled in Casper in 1973. She attended school at Fairdale Elementary, East Junior High, and Kelly Walsh where she graduated in 1986. She went on to attend Casper College where she earned an Associate of Business degree in accounting. Having met John Coleman during the summer of 1987, in 1990 she moved to Seattle, Washington with him and was there until 1995. While in Seattle, Michelle worked for an advocacy group called “Partners in Care Foundation”. During this time she became passionate about protecting a persons’ individuality and their right to self-determination. Michelle’s Mom, Lydia passed away in 1994 in Puerto Rico where Pat was working. After Lydia’s death, Pat returned to Casper, which prompted Michelle and Jon to return in 1995. Jon and Michelle married in 1995, with Michelle joining Jon in working for the Coleman family business, “Wyoming Lighting Associates”. Michelle became the company’s outside sales representative, and traveled throughout the state of Wyoming, western South Dakota, and western Nebraska, meeting with job specifiers and electrical distributing companies. Despite going through an amicable divorce from Jon in 2001, Michelle stayed with Wyoming Lighting until the company’s dissolution in 2023, and remained close to Jon until her death.
During one of the family’s Oregon vacations, a 4-year old Michelle was taught to play pool by her left-handed Uncle Leo and she fell in love with the game. Despite being right-handed, Michelle shot pool left-handed for the rest of her life, because that’s the way Uncle Leo taught her. Michelle, an accomplished pool player, won the Women’s B Division in the Wyoming State 8-Ball Pool Tournament. She followed that win up with a top ten finish in the VNEA International Women’s Team Event in Las Vegas, NV with 3 other ladies from Casper.
In October of 2000, Michelle met Steve Bartosh on the pool table, besting him in their first encounter. They became friends, and after her divorce from Jon, their relationship grew. They were married in Las Vegas on July 6, 2013. The couple enjoyed rock hunting, playing pool and traveling, combining the activities every chance they could.
Michelle became involved with the Invitational Veterans Pool League, and their mission of raising money for veteran’s charitable organizations. She worked tirelessly to keep the league’s focus on helping vets when she became the league’s secretary/treasurer.
Michelle was diagnosed with kidney disease several years ago and tried to qualify for the kidney transplant list. In January, she began dialysis. Complications that arose during dialysis led to her death.
Michelle is survived by her husband Steve Bartosh, brother Kevin Gamroth, ex-husband Jon Coleman along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by mother Lydia Gamroth, brother Brian Gamroth, and father Patrick Gamroth.
Funeral services will be held at Bustards Funeral Home at 2:00 pm, February 21, 2025. A celebration of life will follow at the VFW club on Bryan Stock Trail beginning at 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Michelle’s name to Moonsong Malamute Rescue Group, to which Michelle belonged for nearly 20 years.
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