Glen "Joe" Hugh Dearinger
Glen Hugh "Joe" Dearinger
Glen Hugh "Joe" Dearinger, 94, died Dec. 2, 2010, in Wheatland.
Joe was born in Wheatland in 1916, the youngest son of Frank and Grace Dearinger. His family owned a farm northeast of Wheatland and a butcher shop/grocery store in Wheatland, and he worked alongside his dad and brothers during his younger years.
He and his brothers, Dean and Neal, formed the Dearinger Orchestra, and they performed throughout Wyoming and northern Colorado during their high school and college years. Joe attended the University of Wyoming, where he was a proud member of Sigma Nu fraternity.
Joe married Jean McCarty, a Cheyenne native, in March 1940. They soon moved to Aruba in the West Indies, where Joe worked for Standard Oil. Their first son, Eddie, was born there in 1941.
Joe joined the United States Army Airforce in 1942 and, as a first lieutenant, was a flight instructor for AT-6 aircraft during World War II. Joe and Jean later moved to Laramie, where they lived for 62 years. Their children Noni and Tom were both born in Cheyenne. Joe spent many years in the insurance and real estate business. Throughout his life, he was a staunch supporter of University of Wyoming athletics, and he enjoyed rodeo.
He was preceded in death by Jean, his wife of 68 years, in 2008; his son Eddie; his parents; and his brothers, Neil and Dean.
Joe is survived by his son, Tom G. Dearinger (Cathy) of Manville; his daughter, Noni D. McKinley of Littleton, Colo.; a niece, B.J. Vale of Clark, Colo.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home in Laramie. Memorial donations in Joe's name in support of University of Wyoming athletics would be appreciated.