Michael "Mike" DePaemelaere
1954-2006

CASPER -- A "come-as-you-are" gathering for family and friends of Casper resident Michael "Mike" DePaemelaere, 51, will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, in the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse on Fort Caspar Road. His brother-in-law, the Rev. Mark Lewis, will officiate.

Cremation has taken place.

He died Jan. 22, 2006, at Poplar Living Center.

Born July 10, 1954, in Casper, he was the son of Fern (Keil) and Jules Leon DePaemelaere; was raised and educated here; and graduated from Natrona County High School, where he was in the band and orchestra.

At age 12, he played the cornet in the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps B corps; and was the Troopers' drum major from 1972 to 1975.

He attended Casper College and Colorado College in Leadville.

An employee of Hogadon and Keystone ski areas, he loved being a ski bum and getting paid for it. He also worked as a risk manager for several insurance companies throughout the United States.

His interests included heli-skiing and sailing. He had sailed in the Seattle area and took his boat to California to race in the World Cup.

Survivors include his mother of Casper; sister, Linda Lewis, and her husband of Casper; two aunts; and several cousins, nieces and grandnieces.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Memorials may be made to the Troopers.