Brian Christopher Rittenhouse

Brian C. Rittenhouse was born on March 30, 1974 in Omaha, Nebraska to Bill and Mary Rittenhouse. Brian grew up in numerous towns across Nebraska until he moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1989 and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1992.

Brian married Nicole Tarquinio in 2004 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They were blessed with Hannah in 2006.

Brian and Nicole met in Rist Canyon in 2001. They loved their mountain property and spent countless hours on 4 wheelers and at their shooting range. Brian and Nicole moved to the country, enjoying the best of both worlds. Brian loved to spend time in his shop, he was a master craftsman, whether it was the homes he built or many beautiful pieces of furniture he handcrafted for his friends and family. Brian enjoyed raising his own cattle and made the best beef jerky.

Brian and Nicole were blessed with Hannah in 2006. From the moment she was born she was Daddy's girl. Kiddo, as he called her, was his side kick. Sharing his love of trucks, they had plans to restore a 1977 Ford Crew Cab. Brian passed on his love of the outdoors to Hannah; they enjoyed fishing and spending time at the property.


When Brian was a 3rd grader he received the nickname Barn and it stuck. Brian has loved the outdoors since he was little. In his teen years you would see him 4 wheeling in the mountains, mountain biking in the hills and snowboarding. He always had a passion for building things, while in Highschool he started doing framing and construction work. Brian was a hard worker and always kept busy. When he was 21 he started Rittenhouse Construction and built houses all over Colorado and Wyoming. He was a general contractor. In 2001 Brian bought his dream location up Rist Canyon with 46 acres and an A-frame. He spent many years living there, exploring the land and building his own personal gun range. He later decided he needed to move outside of Fort Collins on a little acreage, but always keeping his Risk Canyon property as his own little get-away. Brian could tinker around in his shop for hours. He was always looking for old 4x4 pickups with Cummins engines to rebuild and make his own truck. Brian had many of his own aphorisms and nicknames for all of his family and friends. Brian always enjoyed shooting guns with his family and friends at Rist Canyon.


If you knew Brian then you were touched by his kindness and generosity, he never hesitated for a moment to help a friend or a stranger. Brian had a smile that lit up a room, and we will all miss hearing his contagious booming laugh. Brian was a person that made you feel better every time you saw him or even thought of him.


Brian leaves behind his wife, Nicole and daughter Hannah of Fort Collins and son Erik (Jayde) Montgomery of Stillwater, Oklahoma. Father, Bill Rittenhouse of Bryan, Texas, sister Becky (Bill) Hunt of Oshkosh, Nebraska, niece, Kaitlyn Hunt and nephew, Gavin Hunt of Oshkosh. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Nick and Sandy Tarquinio of Wellington, Colorado. Many uncles, aunts and cousins and countless special friends. He is proceeded in death by his mother, Mary Rittenhouse, grandparents, Doris Rittenhouse, John and Terese Hearity, uncles, aunts and cousins.

Celebration of life for Brian C. Rittenhouse will be held Saturday, April 8th at 1pm at 5704 County Rd 50, Fort Collins (Rittenhouse Residence). Spreading of the ashes will follow the ceremony at Pine Acres for those who wish to join, with a continuation of the celebration of life with a light meal and drinks back at the house.