Charles 'Chuck' Kottraba

Charles ?Chuck? Kottraba, age 81, died May 5, 2007 after a long battle with emphysema. Charles Wilford Kottraba was born on July 15, 1925 to Raymond W. and Kathryn M. Kottraba. Charles went to school in Rozet. He played basketball for the Mustangs the year they lost State by one point in a three minute overtime. He spent most of his life ranching, working in the oilfield and raising 5 kids in the Rozet and Moorcroft area. He went into the United States Army on December 9, 1943. He served in Germany and was discharged with honors on May 23, 1946. He returned home and married Alta Mae Mellott on January 29, 1949. To this union five children were born: Charles Creg(Kathy) Kottraba; Kathryn Laray (Frank) Askin; Lonny Dean (Jovita) Kottraba; Patricia Jo Kottraba; and Bruce Alan (Jami) Kottraba. Chuck worked in the oilfield for 28 years as an independent pumper. He plowed many a snowy roads and plowed out many snowed in oil field workers. Chuck loved working on his family ranch north of Moorcroft and especially enjoyed haying and calving season. Branding was also a good time with friends and family coming together to get the job done. He often was the man on the horse with the rope. He rebuilt a horse drawn, spring wagon that had belonged to his dad. He could be seen driving it around the ranch with his wife, Babe, by his side. He loved a good game of Pitch or Cribbage and appreciated good country music, westerns, and driving his restored Model A Ford. His favorite times were family get togethers when he could get in a good joke or tease. In the evenings, if you heard Dad rattling in the kitchen he was making his famous Hershey Cocoa fudge. He is survived by his wife, children, eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by three sisters; Leola Thar, Helen Whisler and Hazel Reisland, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Leland and one sister, Willa (Kottraba) Irwin. Dad will be greatly missed. Memorials and Condolences may be sent in Chuck?s name in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 to benefit the Moorcroft Ambulance Fund or the American Lung Association.