Obituary: Barbara Jane Tuttle

Barbara Jane (Kern) Tuttle went to be with her Lord on July 26, 2015.

“Bobbie” was born at home on Jan. 12, 1926, in Fort Collins to Harold and Ida (Spurlock) Kern. She had an older sister, Lois Elizabeth (Kern) Watson Alvarez and a younger brother, Rev. Lawrence R. Kern.

Barbara attended Cache La Poudre School, graduating in 1944; Colorado A&M (CSU) and Emily Griffith Opportunity School. While at CSU, she worked for the Forestry Department. During her high school senior year, she filled in teaching kindergarten while faculty members joined the armed services.

She married her childhood sweetheart, Arthur “Delbert” Tuttle Jr., on Nov. 10, 1944, during WWII, at her parents home in Fort Collins. They later lived in San Raphael, Calif. while Delbert was in the service at Hamilton Field. In California, she worked at Pacific Gas and Electric.

After the war, they made their home in Fort Collins while Delbert worked at Markley Motors and Barbara ran a day care and stayed home with their child. They moved to Denver in 1955 where Delbert worked for Cullen Thompson Motors and Chrysler Corporation. Barbara worked first at Gates Rubber Company and for the Denver Department of Environmental Health. They moved back to Fort Collins in 1963. Barbara then worked for CSU in the Office of the Registrar, Pathology, Student Health and Conference Services departments, and then First National Bank. In 1971, Barbara became the secretary for the Director of Social Services, retiring several times. She was also an eligibility technician, was secretary for the Medicaid transportation division manager and then became a family support technician. At Blue Grouse and Elderhaus she was the medicaid benefits helper. She was also a notary. Her final retirement was at age 80. She remained active on the board for Office for Aging until her last year.

She received many awards from many places for her work and actions such as: “Caught in the Act” in 2001; “Making a Difference” in 2000; Grand Cross of Color (IORG); and multiple leadership awards from Camp Fire Girls. She also was “Calendar Girl” for the Work Force National Calendar 2004.

Barbara was active in many organizations including the Order of Eastern Star (Fort Collins and Sterling); White Shrine of Jerusalem of Greeley; Rebekahs (IOOF) of Loveland; Cache La Poudre Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution; member, Board Member, mother advisor and district deputy (Grand Cross of Color) for International Order of Rainbow for Girls; member, board member, leader of Colorado Camp Fire Organization (18 years); SSTABS; Professional Secretaries Association; Larimer County Genealogy Society; Office on Aging board member.

Her brother inspired her to find her family history. She and Delbert began a search for family roots that became a passion. They helped catalog and put the cemetery listings of Larimer County on computer. They also assisted many others in family searches.

Barbara and Delbert made their home on South Loomis in Fort Collins for 34 years. She moved to the Park Lane Towers in 2005 and was living there until January of the year when she went to the Nursing and Rehab Center of the Rockies (Blue Grouse, where she had previously worked).

Originally a member of Bethel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and American Baptist Church, she most recently attended and was visited by members of First Presbyterian in Fort Collins.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Harold Russell and Ida (Spurlock) Kern; sister: Lois Elizabeth “Betty” Kern Watson Alvarez; brother: Rev. Lawrence Kern; husband: Arthur Delbert Tuttle Jr.; and niece, Vera (Watson) Sharp Selland.

Survivors are her daughter Kathleen Tuttle (Greg Golovanoff); granddaughters: Cassandra Slota (Jeff), Teresa Roseman (Kevin), Elizabeth Boesiger (Ben); step grandchildren: Nick Golovanoff (Sarah), Ben Golovanoff (Alicia), Tanya Golovanoff (Tom Distel), and Tina Golovanoff; great grandchildren: Heidi and Jonathan Young, Dylan and Harmony Roseman, Avery Boesiger; step great grandchildren: Dominic Halvorson, Corben and Kaitlynn Golovanoff, Kord Goff and Evangaline Golovanoff, and Ellen Alyne Distel; nieces: Rebecca Jane Markle (Argus), Mary Beth Akers (Bill), Charlotte Lynn McCollister (JR); and nephew Greg Alvarez (Mary Schwedhelm).

There are also two “special girls” that she watched grow and who were like her own daughters: Katherine (Holtzinger) Bridwell and Nora (Wigle) Nicks. Her best friend from her years at human development was Mercella Barela. Her special friend in her golden years was the late Stan Tuhoski, who took her to Europe in 2006.

She leaves behind a legacy of her work with youth and elderly. She had numerous friends and acquaintances. Some of the young women with whom she enjoyed activities are from three generations.”Mrs. Tuttle” touched the lives of many people as well as her family. She was well loved and will be remembered and missed.

A memorial service were held Aug. 7 at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Interment following at Grandview Cemetery. Chapter 26 Order of Eastern Star and the Fort Collins Assembly #2 IORG assisted with the services.