Michael Duane Kaser, better known as Mick, of Ranchester, died December 26, at home in the company of his family at 72. Visitation will be held at Champion Funeral Home chapel in Sheridan, Wyoming on Monday, January 2nd from 2pm to 4:30pm. Funeral services will be held at Grace Baptist Church in Sheridan, Wyoming on Tuesday, January 3rd at 10am, officiated by Pastor Stephen Anderson. .
He is survived by his wife, Jenny, of Ranchester, Wyoming, whom he married in October of 1973 in Lingle, Wyoming, and their son, Cody, as well as two sons, Tom and David Kaser, from a previous marriage. He is also survived by his three brothers: John (Eileen), of Montrose, Colorado; Tim (Amy), of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Andrew (Terri), of Parker, Colorado, and his mother-in-law, Joyce Dierks of Thermopolis, Wyoming, and brothers-in-law Jay Dierks of Laramie and Jeff Dierks of Thermopolis. He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford, in 2001 and mother, Nina, in 2003, both of Montrose, Colorado.
Mick was raised on the K Lazy Y ranch near Egbert, Wyoming where he developed a love of agriculture, cartography, and the outdoors. In 1962, he graduated from Burns High School, and later went on to work for the Bureau of Land Management for 39 years as a public land access specialist. Due to working extra hours and going above and beyond the standard, he was one of the precious few government employees to accomplish graduating to a GS12 without a college degree. Upon his retirement from the BLM in 2004, Mick built a home from scratch for himself and Jenny along the Tongue River and Wolf Creek.
Mick was an honest to goodness cowboy who loved the history and culture of the American West, especially Wyoming, participating in mountain man rendezvous reenactments and working as a hunting guide. In the late 60s and 70s, Mick toured Wyoming with various country bands, playing the drums and singing. Beginning in the 90s, he crafted cowboy poetry, writing two books and enthralling crowds at various gatherings. Throughout his adult life, Mick devoted himself to gun and hunting safety as a 4-H Shooting Sports and Game and Fish Hunter Safety instructor, mentoring hundreds of young people, facilitating a safer Wyoming.
Mick was a loving husband and father, and a stalwart friend to those fortunate enough to get to know him on his journey.
Online condolences may be written at www.championfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Champion Funeral Home.
Contributions may be made in Mick’s name to the Wyoming State 4-H Foundation, 1000 E. University, Dept. 3354, Laramie, WY 82701
