John  Guthmiller

John Guthmiller, Jr., 90, of Gillette, Wyoming entered the Kingdom of Heaven to be with his wife Gladys, after an extended illness. He passed away at the home of his daughter, Kathy, in Buffalo, Wyoming, surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held at the Goglin Funeral Home in Tripp, South Dakota, on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. lead by Pastor Greg Way. A graveside service will be held at the Grace Hill Cemetery on Friday, February 9, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. in Tripp, South Dakota. Condolences may be sent to the John Guthmiller family at 545 N. Desmet Ave, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834.
John (Jr.) was born February 3, 1928, on the family homestead south of Tripp, South Dakota to John J. and Rosina (Nagel) Guthmiller. He attended country school until graduating 8th grade at which time he went to work to help his family. He grew up farming with draft horses, alongside his father and three brothers. Jr. joined the Army in 1950 and was honorably discharged in 1952. After returning home he worked for Gilbert Schaeffer’s Mobile Gas Station in Tripp for around 9 years as an attendant/mechanic.
Jr. married Gladys Sperlich on October 22, 1961, at Hillside west of Dimock, South Dakota. He got a job in the oilfield which brought them to Gillette, Wyoming, and three children, Kathy, Lyle and Lila were born there. He continued to work for Lewmont and Exeter Drilling as a derrick hand until he retired in 1993.
Jr. loved to read and was mostly self-taught. He was very interested and knowledgeable about history and was bilingual, as he spoke German fluently. He had a love of music, especially Lawrence Welk and polka music. He was very handy and like to rebuild horse drawn wagons and buggy’s and work on old John Deere tractors. He was exceptionally proud of his Model A which he had completely restored.
John is survived by his children, Kathy and Craig Stricker of Buffalo, WY, Lyle Guthmiller of Denver, Colorado, and Lila Guthmiller of Gillette, Wyoming. He was also the proud grandfather of six grandchildren, Christy Knapp of Hulett, Wyoming, Misty McBroom of Buffalo, Wyoming, Tiffany and JD Songer of Buffalo, Wyoming, Shannon and Alex Wade of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jordanne and Anthony Miller of Gilbert, Arizona and Mikaela and Jordan McMartin of Rexburg, Idaho; and twelve great grandchildren. He also leaves behind sisters-in-law Marian Neugebauer of Gillette, Wyoming, and Carol and Marvin Neugebauer of Hermosa, South Dakota, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Gladys, who passed way in 2013, his parents, three brothers and two sisters.