Maxine L. Kaul

Maxine L. (Whetham) Kaul was born December 28, 1930 near Lynch, in rural Boyd County, Nebraska. The first child of Robert Edgar and Vada Izora Long Whetham, she weighed 4 pounds 2 ounces at birth and was given the middle names of her two aunt Helens.  Maxine graduated from Spencer High School in 1948 with a certificate in teaching third grade. She taught for one and a half years before marrying the love of her life, Gerald “Mort” Reinhold Kaul. The two were married in Seward, Nebraska in 1950 and later that year Maxine gave birth to their first child, Leland Lee. The family then moved to Chadron, Nebraska, where in 1953 Mort finished his degree in Elementary Education. That same year they welcomed their second child, Gregory Allen and moved to Newcastle, Wyoming. It was in Newcastle that their last two children were born: Janet Marie, their only daughter, in 1955 and Kelly Joe in 1960. The couple raised the family in their home at 121 Mystic Avenue, where Maxine continued to live until moving to Primrose in Gillette, WY in 2019. In addition to being a full-time wife and mother, in 1975 she and Mort entered the restaurant business. For four years they owned and operated the Tesoro, a truck stop cafe in Newcastle open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Maxine and Mort were also charter members of Newcastle’s Grace Lutheran Church, where they were both baptized in 1959. Among her many interests and pursuits, Maxine’s love of history stands out most of all. It was this passion that led her to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and become a proud supporter of the VFW. She was a member in good standing of the Wyoming Historical Society, and her dedication sparked what would become an important life’s work and legacy. Maxine wrote several books chronicling her own family history, along with many other books and papers on the history of northeastern Wyoming. Maxine Kaul was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gerold “Mort” Reinhold Kaul, as well as their firstborn son, Leland Lee, beloved daughter-in-law, Elaine Rae Kaul as well as great-grandson, Kendri Leighton Kaul.  She is survived by Leland’s children, Leland Lee Kaul, JR; Jeffrey Lee Kaul, his son Cody Ruby; Gerold (Jerry) Christopher Kaul, his wife Melissa Dawn (Treichel) Kaul, and their children Selena Metaxia Kaul, Jasmine Mae Kaul and her wife Shelby (Moe) Kaul, their daughter, Mordekai Jayd Kaul, Caitline Jade Kaul, Alexis Dawn Kaul, Isabella Lee Kaul, Samantha Jo Kaul, Ivy Louise Kaul; her son Gregory Allen Kaul, his wife Debra (Napolitano) Kaul and their children, William David Kaul, his wife Marie-Noel Kaul and their daughter, Taylor Anne Kaul, Thomas Anthony Kaul, his family,  Joss Lynn and  Ava Lynn, Anne Marie (Kaul) Marton, her husband Kevin Patrick Marton, and their sons, Asher Jules Marton and Abram Noble Marton; daughter Janet Marie Williamson, her husband James Lee Williamson and their children Walter Douglas Williamson, his wife Amanda (Miller) Williamson, their sons, Eric Williamson, Adam Williamson, and Justin Williamson, Andrew James Williamson, his wife Jen (Fetters) Williamson, and James Lee Williamson, JR,  as well as her youngest child, Kelly Joe Kaul, his daughter Cassandra (Kaul) Tobin, her husband Eric Tobin, their children,  Myndy Elise Heringer, Agatha Maxine Heringer, and Dakota Tobin; Megan Marie Kaul, her husband Charles Roscoe Feehan, and their children Adalyn Grace Feehan, Harrison James Feehan, and Elaina Kay Feehan, As well as countless friends and family. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.