Howard Tegtman

Howard Allen Tegtman, longtime Fort Collins resident and high school educator, died Sunday, May 28, 2006, at Poudre Valley Hospital from heart disease. Howard was born on June 26, 1933, in Fort Lupton to Ernest and Fern Tegtman. He was raised in Prospect Valley. In 1951, he graduated from Prospect Valley High School as salutatorian of his class and subsequently joined the Navy during the Korean conflict. He was extremely proud to serve as honor man of his company. Howard was assigned to the U.S. Naval Intelligence Office in the 11th Naval District Headquarters in San Diego, Calif. After completing three years of successful service in the Navy, he was honorably discharged on June 19, 1954. Howard returned to Colorado that year, entering Colorado State College of Education in Greeley. He majored in business education and minored in speech pathology. At that time, he became affiliated with Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1957, he continued with his graduate studies in business administration. When he received his master's degree in 1958, he returned to San Diego to teach in several high schools. He chose in 1961 to return to Colorado and accepted a teaching position as a business teacher at Fort Collins High School. Howard taught 29 years at the school, 18 of which he was chairman of the business department. In 1972, Howard married teaching colleague Phyllis Jean Elliott, who survives him. Their two daughters, Jean Anne Tegtman, of Fort Collins, and Karyn Leigh Wanstreet and husband, Jack, of Johnstown, also survive him. Other survivors include brothers, Robert, of Prospect Valley, James and wife, Charlotte, of Keenesburg, and Franklin and wife, Joyce, of Peyton; and his sisters, Betty Jean Hillenbrand and husband, Harry, of Kremmling, and Joan Gustafson and husband, Donald, of Prospect Valley. Additional survivors include grandchildren Taylor Sarah Wanstreet and Cole Craig Wanstreet, of Johnstown, and close friend Gregg Wailes, of Holyoke. Howard was an extremely dedicated teacher, a truly gifted gardener and a lover of all animals great and small. He most certainly was a loving husband, father and grandfather, as well as a dear friend. Howard also found great joy in his other homes in Washington state, located in Greenbank on Whidbey Island. For 30 years, he spent a part of each summer in the Pacific Northwest. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel, with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Greeley. Memorial contributions may be made to Poudre School District Foundation or the Larimer County Humane Society in care of Bohlender Funeral Home.