James Leroy VanGilder, 83, passed away Tuesday, September 28, 2021 in Boulder, Wyoming. A resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming since 1992 and former resident of Sumner, Illinois, Mr. VanGilder died following a sudden illness.
He was born November 14, 1937, in Petty Township in Lawrence County, Illinois; the son of Emmitt Wade VanGilder and Geneva Marie Bennett.
Mr. VanGilder attended school in Sumner, Illinois, and was a 1955 graduate of Sumner High School.
He married Shirley Ann Moore June 29, 1956, in Sumner, Illinois. She preceded him in death on March 7, 2006 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He moved his family from Illinois to Wyoming in 1969 with Marathon Oil Company. He retired in June 1992, after working 40 years in the oil fields in Illinois, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Libya.
He enjoyed camping in the mountains, hunting, fishing, four-wheeling, bowling, and traveling. He was active at the Young at Heart Senior Center. In later years he completed a cabin in Boulder, Wyoming, where he enjoyed watching the antelope and ospreys.
Survivors include two daughters, Regina “Gina” Lanning and husband Stan of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Teresa McCaslin and husband Rick of Big Piney, Wyoming; four grandchildren, Chris Lanning and wife Kathy, Matt Lanning and Melanie Lake; Deidre Denison and husband Chris; Chandra Holgate and husband Jared; seven great-grandchildren, Isaac Lanning; Maybrie Denison; Wyatt Denison; Brookley Denison; J.R. Denison; Brynnley Holgate, and Troy Holgate. In recent years he enjoyed the companionship of Linda Unger.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley VanGilder: his parents, Emmitt Wade VanGilder and Geneva “Marie” VanGilder, step-mother, Nora VanGilder; paternal grandparents, Lonnie VanGilder and Della Fornoff; maternal grandparents, John Everett Bennett and Alta Belle Roberts; aunts; uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at the Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Interment will be in the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.
The family respectfully requests donations in James’s memory be made to Teton Raptor Center (The Hardeman Barns,) 5450 West Highway 22, Wilson, Wyoming 83014, or to Rendezvous Point Senior Center, 425 West Magnolia Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.
Condolences may be left at www.vasefuneralhomes.com
