Margaret Cruz: 1934 – 2024
Margaret Cruz, 89, passed on January 15, 2024, in her home, surrounded by family. She was born on December 29, 1934, to Benito “BG” and Maria “Cruzita” Montoya in Las Manuelitas, New Mexico.
Margaret is survived by Jake Cruz, Marsha (Gary) Roberts, of Cheyenne; Marie (Rod) Smith, of Gering, Nebraska; Elecia (Henry) Uhden, Scott (Micah), of Cheyenne; eight grandchildren: Heather Wright, Elizabeth Travis, Carmen Wrobetz, Rebecca Gallego, Veronica Crawford, Amanda Day, Danielle Zwetzig, and Jonathan Day; sixteen great-grandchildren; and three brothers: Donnie Montoya, Leroy Montoya, and Rick Bolka.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Abel Cruz; Benito and Cruzita Montoya; four brothers, and one sister.
A viewing will be on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. The funeral will be held on Monday at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel, at 10:00 a.m., which is only to be attended for immediate family.
Mary Elizabeth Eastman: 1936 – 2024
Mary Elizabeth (Sprague) Eastman, 87, of Cheyenne, Wyoming passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 13, 2024.
Born in Brownfield, Maine on September 28, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Norman and Elizabeth (York) Sprague.
She dedicated herself to raising her six children and caring for those around her. She became a resident of Wyoming in 1990.
She enjoyed reading, shopping, puzzles, quilting, gardening, playing games with family, and baking treats for those she loved. There was a special place in her heart for her own dogs and any dog she was able to spend time with. She will be remembered for her cheerful and caring nature, creativity, wit and sense of humor, and the pride she took in her family’s accomplishments.
She is predeceased by her sister, Anita Sanborn; brothers, Henry Sprague and Harold Sprague; daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Martinez; and son, Patrick “Pat” Eastman.
She is survived by one brother; one sister; three daughters; one son; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren: brother Russell Sprague of West Baldwin, ME; sister Irene Hagins and husband Dennis “Denny” of Parsonsfield, ME; daughter Pamela “Pam” Freeman and husband Charles “Chuck” of Limerick, ME: granddaughter Jessica “Jess” Wilcox and husband Al of Limington, ME: great-grandchildren Tyler Wansor, and Wyatt Bennett; son Michael “Mike” Eastman and wife Wendy of Parsonsfield, ME: granddaughter Aly Eastman; daughter Margaret Rosso and husband James “Jim” of Cheyenne, WY: grandson Travis McNitt and fiancé Faith White of Colorado Springs, CO: great-grandchildren Ryker Kimmel, and Isla McNitt; daughter Victoria “Vickie” Eledge and husband Harold “Hal” of Cheyenne, WY: granddaughter Kaitlyn Peel and husband Thomas of Aurora, CO, and granddaughter Alexis Eledge and fiancé Luis Paredes of Cheyenne, WY; grandson Nicholas “Nick” Mitchell and partner Alexis “Lexi” Lehman of Parsonsfield, ME: great-granddaughter Vaida Mitchell; and grandson Benjamin “Ben” Mitchell and wife Isabel of Escondido, CA.
To honor Mary’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. The family encourages you to celebrate Mary’s memory privately.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter to honor her love of animal companions.
https://www.cheyenneanimalshelter.org/donate
Michael J Norrod: 1956 – 2024
Retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Michael J. Norrod died at his home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, peacefully with his family January 9, 2024, at 8:14 p.m. He was born November 20, 1950, at the U.S Army Hospital Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
He is survived by his three children, Jeffrey M. Norrod of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Lisa J. Norrod of Kihei, Hawaii, Heather J. Norrod of Placentia, California; grandson, Christian Michael Hawkins of Placentia, California; brothers: Gary T. Norrod of Denver, Colorado, Tim B. Norrod of Brooks, Georgia; and many nephews and nieces.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William T. Norrod, Retired U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Janet (Wespe) Norrod, a Cheyenne, Wyoming, native; and his youngest brother, David Norrod, Retired U.S. Army.
He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and was a Charter Member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 59. He was a past member of the Board of Directors for the Cheyenne Bowling Association and had served as a County Election Judge.
After graduating from high school, he served in the USAF during the Vietnam War era in Texas, Mississippi, Germany and California. After the USAF, he joined the inactive reserves and briefly served in the Wyoming Air National Guard. He then continued his military career in the USN, from which he retired as an Operations Specialist Master Chief Petty Officer.
He served at Great Lakes, Illinois.; San Diego and Long Beach, California; Bremerton, Washington; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also served aboard the United States Ship (USS) Long Beach, a nuclear cruiser.
After retirement from the Navy, he was a performance analyst for an investment management company in San Diego for approximately 10 years. After the death of his father, he moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to take care of his mother.
As a child, he lived throughout the world, including England and Taiwan, while his father served in the USAF. At the age of five, he spent 18 days crossing the Pacific Ocean on the USS General Partick. At the age of 12, he crossed the Atlantic to France and England on the Steamship (SS) United States.
Viewing hours are Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at Wiedersphan-Radomksy Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project in honor of Michael J. Norrod.
James Clark Webber: 1941 – 2024
James “Jim” Webber was “Promoted to Glory” (a term in The Salvation Army referring to death as a step into eternal life) on January 9, 2024. After battling cancer for nearly a year, Jim was ready to move on to his forever home and be reunited with loved ones who had gone on before him including his parents and five siblings. His passing was peaceful, surrounded by family.
Born April 10, 1941 in Cheyenne to parents Chaney & Lillie Webber, Jim was the 8th of 11 children, 10 of whom survived to adulthood. Family was important to him. Stamina was a characteristic of the family and Jim, as well as his siblings, learned to stand up for themselves and each other.
After high school, Jim attended trade school to become an auto-body repair man. While he did not work in that field for too long, he never stopped working on cars, and very frequently was called upon to fix vehicles for others. He rebuilt a number of old cars and belonged to a car club later in life called “Oak Spokes”.
Jim held a number of different jobs during his time of employment, the longest-term including working for the City Water Department and working as an exterminator. He proudly became a “jack of all trades”, and often utilized his various skills to help others. He served on several teams providing disaster relief services through The Salvation Army. His most recent use of variety of skills as an income source was being a landlord. It was important to Jim to provide affordable housing to others and he and Carolyn were especially generous in this regard.
The Salvation Army was his church from childhood, and he was very dedicated to serving God through The Salvation Army. Jim served as a local leader with the title Corps Sergeant Major (CSM) for almost 60 years.
In addition to church, Jim was heavily involved in numerous activities. He joined Civil Air Patrol, where he served in various capacities for a number of years. The Cheyenne Boat & Ski Club was something that allowed him to pursue his love for water skiing and saucering. He was also an active member of Friendship Force and through that club was able to visit a number of different countries, making friends all over the US and the world.
People who knew Jim, knew him as persistent, faithful, generous, and always willing to help. He had strong beliefs and opinions. He loved his family and lived to serve others. He lived a full life, making a deep impact on many, and fulfilling the purpose God had for him.
Jim is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Carolyn; his two daughters, Barbara (Mark) Brennan and Lynada Spencer; eight grandchildren: Michael “Jori” (Rachel) Eyres, Josh (Danielle) Eyres, Jeff (Hazuki) Brennan, Drew Brennan, Lillie Brennan, Cody Spencer, Jeremiah Spencer, Raylin Ragsdale; seven great-grandchildren; and siblings Joe “Bud” Webber, Loretta Heath, Sharon Wells, Connie Cummings.
