Nadene Joyce Robertson

Nadene Joyce Robertson went home to be with the Lord September 11, 2020. Nadene was born April 21, 1932 to Alan and Anne Risley in Fredrick, Colorado. She joined older brother Waine and sister Phyliss.  A few years later sister Mary Jane was born completing the family. Her growing up years were spent in Denver enjoying her life in the city with her family. She fondly remembered those times going to school, ice skating, rolling skating, swimming or being with her grandparents on their small vegetable farm.  It was there that her work ethic was instilled and the love of family.

    In 1946 her mother and two of her uncle leased the Bluebird Cafe in Jackson for the summer. All of the kids came along to help work in the cafe and see what small town life was about. A lot of hard work but also a lot of fun especially for Nadene and Phyliss.  That fall the family returned to Denver so the kids could go back to school.  The following summer it was back to Jackson to the Bluebird with hopes of a year around business. Both Nadene and Phyliss were glad to be back enjoying the dances, the rodeos, and all the fun.  By this time both Nadene and Phyliss had met their future husbands, Jack Robertson and Gene Grisamer. The sisters planned a double wedding, and both became life long Wyoming girls.  Thankfully these city girls were both up to the adventure!

     Nadene supported Jack in his many endeavors, some or most of those were outside her comfort zone. The first time Jack took her hunting she fainted when she saw the blood!  Needless to say Nadene wasn’t much of a hunter.  After a time she did become an expert in processing the game though. Luckily for Jack, she had a strong constitution and learned quickly.  

     She and Jack together raised five kids, did some ranching, operated their outfitting business, and worked in the timber patch. Several summers were spent living in a tent, working in bug camps spraying trees for pine beetles in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.  All the kids loved those times, whats better than camping all summer… unless you are the Mom!

    There were many busy years for Nadene taking care of her home and family. Luckily, she had her two dear friends Georgean Wheeldon and Vanessa Johnson to share these time with. Nadene and Georgean had so much fun, raising their kids together, and playing “sally”. She was always so thankful for both of these women, and how they could depend on each other.

     As the kids grew up and started leaving home Nadene spent summers in the Gros Ventre  with Jack while he punched cows for Bacon Creek Association,  this meant more camping. She took up fly fishing and became quite a proficient fishermen.  By this time the grandkids were beginning to arrive.  Both Nadene and Jack enjoyed this part of life, and were the best grandparents freely spending their time with them at cow camp or at home.

     After Jack died in 1986 Nadene realized she would need to create a new life for herself, which she did. She went to work at the Wort Hotel at the front desk, and eventually as the front desk manager. She enjoyed this job and had many friends there. When the Wort job ended she decided it was now time to move back to the city. Nadene  packed her bags and headed back to Denver. She really enjoyed being near her family, but a lot had changed in the city and so had she. After just 9 months she moved back to Wyoming. She lived in Afton for a time, remodeling her house and enjoying her grandkids.  She also took up bowling and cross country skiing. After the work was done on the house and not enough to keep for her busy she decided she wanted to move into Pioneer Homestead.  This was a very good move for her, she was very happy and said it was pretty easy living. Her friend Rose White already lived there so she showed Nadene the ropes and they became known as the “mother-in-laws”.  Nadene enjoyed the line dancing and especially playing pinnacle, she was known the Pinnacle Queen. She lived at Pioneer 2015 until Alzheimer’s made it impossible to live alone.

  The past five years were very difficult for Mom, she said I get up everyday and do the best I can, that is all anyone can do. We will remember Mom for her love for her family, her strength and perseverance.  Her joy in simple pleasures, a good book, cooking and eating a good meal, sewing, knitting, and working in her flower beds. We know the Lord has renewed her mind and she is once again strong and healthy dancing with her Cowboy.  Nadene is preceded in death by her husband Jack, all of her siblings, and great grandson Alex.  She is survived by her sons John and Chris, Jerry and Debbie; Marvin and Valerie Robertson daughters Cathy and Tom Toolson and Sharon and Jerry White. 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter, sister-in-law Tillie Robertson, brother-in-law Steve Robertson and Bill Clark. Also the Engler kids, the Wheeldon kids, Carol, Linda,Bobbie and Nickie…you all had a special place in her  heart.