Bernice Glahn

Bernice Elba Glahn was born May 10, 1916, on the family homestead in rural Weld County to James Garfield and Elba Edith Weiser Kieler, the second of six children. She passed away July 26, 2006, at the Yuma District Hospital, Yuma. She had recently celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends. Bernice attended country school and then boarded in town to complete high school in Pine Bluffs, Wyo., Class of 1934. She lettered in basketball and played piano in a family band that played for area barn dances. Music was a lifelong love, as well as dancing. She began a secretarial career and moved to Fort Collins, where she met a handsome Fort Collins fireman, Henry Albert Glahn. They were married April 20, 1943, as Al was about to deploy overseas during WWII. Albert Dean Glahn became a special stepson. To this union, two children were born, Dwight Allen and Charlotte Louise. In 1950, the family settled in Loveland, where Bernice worked in banking at the Home State Bank for 18 years and Al was an electrician for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. After a brief transfer to Fort Morgan in 1971, Al retired from the Bureau, and they returned to Fort Collins in 1973. They enjoyed retirement: working some, pursuing hobbies and interests such as watching CSU basketball. Two highlights were a trip to England and Scotland and a 40th wedding anniversary bash in 1983. They were active in the lives of their children and grandchildren. Al passed away in 1989. Bernice became more involved with her church First Methodist and Eastern Star. She began dancing at the area senior centers and shared many dances with a special friend, Floyd Holsinger, of Fort Collins. She developed Parkinson's disease and in 2003 moved to Yuma to be closer to her daughter. She went from assisted living to nursing home care and was a resident of Yuma Life Care Center when she succumbed to complications of her disease. Bernice was a friendly, likeable person. She balanced career and home at a time when few women worked. She was a great cook - especially her pies - and tended to a beautiful rose garden. Most importantly, she was a loving wife and a wonderful mother and grandmother. Bernice is preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Edith Kieler; brothers, Marvin Rawlins, Wyo., and Edward Denver Kieler. She is survived by two sisters and one brother: Garfaye Rehr Alfred, of Cheyenne, Wyo., Genevieve Pierce Floyd, of Northglenn, and Howard Kieler Mary, of Pine Bluffs, Wyo. Also, by her children: Dwight Glahn Nancy Stuart, of Arvada, Charlotte Parks, of Yuma, and Dean Glahn Sally, of Murrietta, Calif. Her grandchildren are Virginia Parks Colin Warren, of Chicago, Keith Parks, of Denver, and Sarah Beth Parks, of Storrs, Conn., as well as those in Southern California: Jeffrey Glahn Shawn, Brian Glahn and Brett Glahn. Great-grandchildren are in Illinois: Ian Parks; and in California: Zachary, Sarah and Shallon Glahn. She leaves many other relatives and numerous friends. Funeral services were held on Aug. 3 at Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins, officiated by Rev. Paul Holdeman. Interment was at Roselawn Cemetery in Fort Collins. Memorials may be made to the Yuma District Hospital Foundation, either directly or sent to Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins CO 80524.