Chester “Chet” Haagensen, 93, passed away Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, at his home.

Chet was born Sept. 26, 1924, in Loveland, Colorado, to Oswald and Edna (Lester) Haagensen. The family settled in Parker, Colorado, where they ran a dairy farm. After the death of his father when he was four years old, Edna moved the family to a homestead north of Rock River, where he spent much of his childhood, later moving into Rock River.

As a young man, he enjoyed helping when it came to haying and branding seasons, and once had a job as a pin setter in a bowling alley. He enjoyed attending barn dances, hunting, fishing, and camping.

In May of 1943, he enlisted in the army. He was in the 58th Chemical Warfare Company, and served in the South Pacific. After his honorable discharge in February 1946, he returned home to the Laramie area and started working for Chevron Oil. He received his pilot’s license, under the GI bill.

On June 15, 1952, he married the love of his life, Helen Myrtle Lewis in Laramie. Together they had three daughters, Jeannie, Vivian and Linda. In 1964, the family was transferred to Gillette and made a home there. He enjoyed taking the family fishing, hunting, and camping. He loved road trip vacations with the family, and loading us up in the car and taking us to the drive-in theater. He loved the westerns, John Wayne, and Clint Eastwood were his favorites. He also liked Louis L’Amour, and had read all his books. He was a devoted, and supportive husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He never met a stranger. He was hard working and honest, and had a great sense of humor. He always had a smile for everyone. Chet was also an artist, he carved many beautiful pictures. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t build or fix. He was a kind and gentle soul.

After retirement, Chet and Helen enjoyed time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, traveling, visiting family, playing cards, going to Deadwood and going to the Gillette Senior Center for lunch. He also enjoyed attending Cheyenne Frontier Days with best friends Jake and Estelí French. Spending time with friends was a big part of their lives.

After Helen passed in 2005, he looked forward to seeing the staff at the center and spending time with friends almost every day. It was home away from home for him. He enjoyed listening to his son-in-law, Ted play his guitar and sing songs, watching Colorado Rockies games, and was a Wyoming Cowboys football fan. He looked forward to watching the Denver Broncos play every week with his grandson, Jim.

Chet’s survived by his daughters, Jeannie (Ted) Johns and Linda (Dawn) Haagensen; grandchildren, James Daum, Timothy Daum, and Wendy (Jack) Brophy all from Gillette, Rebecca Johns of Gordon, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, Michael Maycock, Morgan Maycock, Jack Brophy, and Ashtyn Brophy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Daniel, Lamont, Oswald Alton and Richard; sisters, Lois, and Phyllis; his wife, Helen Haagensen; and daughter, Vivian Harvey.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 6, 2017 at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home with Reverend Rhett Ivey officiating. Burial to follow at Greenhill Cemetery with military honors by the Wyoming National Guard and the Laramie Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, please make a small donation to the Gillette Senior Center to provide a lunch for a senior.