John Wheeler Fowler

Funeral service for John Fowler will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, Febraury 11, 2025 at Family Life Church with Pastor Marty Crump officiating; interment to follow at Rozet Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 10, 2025 at Gillette Memorial Chapel. 

John Wheeler Fowler passed away February 4, 2025 at The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gillette due to multiple health problems. John was born to Doug and Mabel (Eskew) Fowler on December 2, 1943 in Gillette, WY. He was raised by his mother on the family ranch north of Oshoto, WY and on which he has run sheep and cattle for many years. John did many things over his lifetime such as ranching, wrangling dudes in the Jackson Hole area, riding broncs, and generally doing things that many do when young and energetic, including totaling his mother’s new pickup near the bridge in Hulett during his high school years and generally causing his mother many gray hairs. He has been a member of the Tower Masonic Lodge #44 in Hulett, WY for over 40 years. His first love and passion was driving truck and started as soon as he was old enough (or not). Eventually, he started his own trucking company, Fowler Trucking which is successfully continuing through the efforts of his daughter Kachena. John also enjoyed working on old tractors and seeing exactly how many pieces he didn’t have to use to make it run again. 

John attended school in Hulett except for 6 months when he went to Gillette. John met and married his wife Paula Speaks in 1969 and had one daughter, Kachena in 1976. They were married for 30 years. He was always up for a road trip and as soon as you were committed, he asked “Hey you wanna drive.” He had managed visiting every state except New York. He loved reading about Wyoming history and War history. John always had a tidbit of wisdom such as “Finer than a frog hair split three ways”, and “You could get a lot further if ya kept the left hand door closed”. John never was without a dog. He had a deep love for animals of all kinds, but his dog went everywhere with him. If his dog couldn’t go then John didn’t go.

In later years, as his health began to decline and he was no longer able to drive a truck, he enjoyed meeting his friends at Lula Belle’s, The Local, and Donna’s Diner in Moorcroft. Fish Fridays at Rozet was also commonplace. He never knew a stranger and enjoyed having people around all the time. He would say without hesitation that his daughter and granddaughter were his biggest and best achievements. Even when his memory was failing, he always asked what Shayda was doing and when he could expect a visit from her and Kachena. In addition to his family he leaves behind many close and dear friends who were family as well. 

Survivors include his daughter Kachena (Shawn) Lesmeister and granddaughter Shayda, brother-in-law Melvin Fowlkes of Lewiston, ID and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Ione Hauber, Linda Fowlkes and Mary Lee Fowler who died in infancy.

His family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice, Legacy Living and Rehabilitation, and Primrose staff for the excellent care they gave him, as they are all true angels here on earth. At times, it was probably not easy, given that one of his sisters always said he was beyond stubborn and hard-headed.

Memorials can be made to Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT, or to the charity of your choice. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.