Charles A. Mertala of Casper

CASPER - Casper resident Charles A. Mertala, 81, died March 4, 2005, after a short illness.

Cremation has taken place and private memorial services and scattering of ashes will be held in the spring.

Born Sept. 27, 1923, in Hanna, he was the son of Johanna (Luoma) and Sander Mertala; and completed his education in Rawlins.

He then went to Pasadena, Calif., and entered the Pasadena Playhouse School of Drama.

In 1942, he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Signal Corps, where he coded and decoded messages. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After returning to Pasadena and the playhouse, he also worked for Con-Edison Electrical Co. for 37 years. He moved back to Wyoming in 1980 and lived in Ten Sleep until 2002.

He spent the last 2.5 years living with his brother, Edwin Johnson, in Casper.

In addition to his brother, survivors include his sister, Norma Crowe of Worland; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Edna (Mertala) Johanson; two nephews; and a niece.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.


Courtesy of Casper Star Tribune - Trib.com

Irene (Luoma) Swanson of Junction City, Kansas

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Former Wyoming resident Irene (Luoma) Swanson died Jan. 13, 2005, in Junction City, following a short illness.

Her body was donated to the Kansas State University Medical College. Cremation will take place at a later date and her ashes will be scattered with her husband's in Wyoming.

Born in Leo, she was the youngest of 13 children of Kriston and Emma Mary (Sakrison) Luoma; and was educated in Rawlins. She then went to the Beauty School of Cosmetology in Laramie; and moved with her family to Casper in 1943.

After moving to Worland in 1946, she met Harold Swanson. The couple was married April 5, 1954, in Lander.

She returned to Casper in 1955 and was an instructor at Hall's Beauty School for 1.5 years. They then moved to Junction City, where her husband completed his career in the U.S. Army.

Survivors include her sister, Elsie Osborne of Casper; brother, Issac Luoma of Loup City, Neb.; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Nov. 14, 1998, after 44 years of marriage.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.


Courtesy of Casper Star Tribune - Trib.com