Madeline Marie Krusich, 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at South Lincoln Medical Center in Kemmerer. She was born June 30, 1931, in Diamondville, as the eldest of three children to Nase and Theresa Gagliardi. She grew up in Diamondville, attended Burgoon School and graduated from Kemmerer High School in 1949. After graduation, she worked as a telephone operator. She also worked at the Victory Theater with her best friend, May Simperman-Dover.
Madeline married Butch Krusich on August 5, 1950. She spent 29 years preparing homemade dishes for the students at the Kemmerer schools. She loved cooking her Italian dishes and homemade desserts for her family on Sundays. All her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had their favorite dish.
Madeline and Butch were avid University of Wyoming Cowboy fans, and followed the team to destinations including San Diego, Hawaii and even Australia. They seldom missed a Wyoming football game in Laramie. Madeline also was a fan of the Kemmerer Rangers. If she couldn’t be at a game, she always listened on the radio.
Madeline was affectionately known as the “White Tornado”. She had the cleanest house in Wyoming, and even at age of 82 she would be on a ladder washing her windows in 30 degree weather. Madeline was generous beyond words, and would give you the shirt off her back, which would be a freshly-ironed Wyoming sweatshirt.
With heavy hearts her family said goodbye, knowing she would be reunited with the love of her life, Butch. She is survived by her two daughters, Debbie (Jim) Keenan and Judy (Greg) Gray; three grandchildren, Tracy Stratemann, Brian (Jennie) Gray and Stevie Gray; five great grandchildren, Haley (Steven) Sanders, Aimee and Luke Gray, and Madeline and Molly Stratemann; two siblings, Gerry (Ted) Wright and their children, and Robert Gagliardi and his son and numerous nieces and nephews.
As per her request, no services will be held now. A celebration of her life will be held in June of 2018.
Online condolences may be left at ballfamilychapel.com. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Ball Family Chapel in Kemmerer.
