Ronald Lee Gooder

Ronald Lee Gooder

“The Force is strong with this one.”

Ronald Lee Gooder passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026, at Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper, Wyoming following a brief illness. He was 73 years old.

Born Feb. 9, 1953 in Denver, Colorado, to Ronald Brent Gooder and Sara “Sally” Potarf, Ron was a lifelong Wyomingite at heart. He grew up one of the oldest of a blended family of 10 children including Fred, Jerre, Lynn, Jim, James, Valerie, Jody, Janice, and Joe.

In 1977, Ron married his first wife Joyce Wimmer, and together they welcomed two children, Andrea and Lucas into the world. Ron was a devoted father who took pride in the accomplishments and happiness of his children.

Later, a cherished friendship from years past blossomed into a love story when Ron reunited with Rochelle “Shelley” Benoit in 2016. The two were married on May 18, 2021, bringing Shelley’s son Grant and her step-children Jennifer, Alissa, and Jason into their blended family. Daily, Ron and Shelley lived a deeply connected, loving, and joyous life. Together they created a home filled with laughter and family.

Ron grew up with a lasting love of Star Trek, Star Wars, and wide-open landscapes. He attended both Kelly Walsh and Natrona County high schools in Casper, WY, graduating in 1971 and earning an FAA pilot certificate shortly thereafter.

Music was an enduring passion of Ron’s and throughout his lifetime he performed in several choral and musical groups. To say that he attended hundreds of live concerts is an understatement. It was always important to Ron to have friends and family there with him, no matter what style or genre of music it was.

He performed with several bands over the years, including Cherry Lace in the 1970s and the Kenny Bradberry Band in later decades. His love of music eventually led him to study the art of guitar restoration and repair at the Galloup School of Lutherie in Big Rapids, Michigan. He became an avid collector and caretaker of fine instruments, finding joy in preserving their beauty and history.

Ron earned his undergraduate degree in Zoology at the University of Wyoming in 1974, at which point he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps as a physician. He went on to graduate from medical school with his MD from University of California San Francisco in 1978.

Following medical school, Ron completed his residency at St. Michael Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the conclusion of his residency, his participation in the National Health Service Corp. brought Ron to the San Luis Valley, Colorado for several years when he was the only physician in an underserved rural community.

In 1986, Ron returned to Wyoming and joined his father, Dr. Ronald Brent Gooder, in medical practice in Jackson. For nearly two decades, the entire community knew they could rely on Ron for skilled, dedicated, and compassionate medical care. A brilliant physician and friend to all, Ron was always willing to listen and lend a hand.

Upon retiring from his medical practice in 2003, Ron embarked on a second career with FedEx, traveling the highways and prairie byways of central Wyoming and continuing to build the friendships and community connections that meant so much to him.

After many years of struggling with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Ron became a grateful recipient of a double lung transplant on August 3, 2018. For the past eight years, this “gift of life” has brought Ron in touch with a team of transplant professionals at the University of Colorado Anschutz in Aurora, where he received outstanding care.

Preceding Ron in death were his mother, Sally Gooder (1969), his stepmother, Donna Gooder (2011), his father, Dr. Ronald Brent Gooder (2012); his sister, Lynn Baker (2017), and his stepbrother, Joe Wroble (2018).

Ron is survived by his wife Shelley; children Andrea Gooder (partner Cody Yesel), Lucas Gooder (wife Stephanie), and Grant Gorgen; Shelley’s stepchildren Jennifer Scheler (husband Alex), Alissa Effland (husband DuWayne), Jason Gorgen; brothers Jim Gooder (wife Debbie), Fred Wrobleske (wife Nga Eeles), and James Wroble (wife Isabel); sisters Valerie Gooder, Jerre Wroble, Jody (husband Bil) Idzerda, and Janice Wroble; grandchildren Jacob Petro, Aiden Gooder, Blake Gooder, Guinevere Yesel, and Sebastian Yesel; along with several nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, former patients, and fellow musicians.

A viewing will be held on Monday June 22, 6-7:30pm at Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home in Casper, WY, followed by a service on Tuesday, June 23 at 10:00am, with a reception and light refreshments to follow. For those who wish to remember Ron, consider being an organ donor or sending a donation in his name to Central Wyoming Hospice.