Gaylen L. Troftgruben

Gaylen L. Troftgruben, age 75 of Casper, WY passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2016 in McAlester, OK.

Gaylen Lew Troftgruben was born May 30, 1941 to Sundry and Pearl (Gilbertson) Troftgruben. He grew up in Edinburg and Adams, ND graduating from Adams High School in 1959.. He worked on the farm with his Dad. He was united in marriage to Sharon Ann Olson on June 23, 1962. The couple lived in Minneapolis, MN, Park River, ND and later back to Adams. In 1968 the family moved to Wyoming so he could find steady work with benefits. He worked at oil refineries in Sinclair and Casper, WY. In 1992 they transferred with BP to Texas City, TX. When he retired in 2003 they moved back to Casper to be near their grandchildren. Sharon passed away in 2007 after a lengthy illness. Gaylen took great care of her, their love for each other was very strong.

Gaylen was a very smart, caring, quiet man with a great smile. He enjoyed getting out daily and meeting his friends in Casper. Unfortunately he had the Alzheimer’s and cancer cards dealt to him in the last part of his life.

Gaylen is survived by his mother, Pearl Troftgruben, Park River, ND: his three children: Sheila (Steve) Gerlock, McAlester, OK; Jeffery Troftgruben (Christine Forkner), Aurora, CO; Tanya (Dan) Holman, Casper, WY; nine grandchildren: Penny, Desirae, Kurt, Kaitlyn, Blaze, Jillian, Trey, Lindsey, and Tyana; eight great grandchildren; his sister, Pam (John) Landsem, Adams, ND: brother, Gary (Mavis) Troftgruben, Harvey, ND. Several nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, father Sundry, sister Lori Ann and brother Gerald Jan.

Funeral services will be: Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 10:30 A.M. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton. Visitation will be Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Odalen Lutheran Cemetery, rural Edinburg.