Barbara Jean Straw

Barbara Jean Straw, 92, of Loveland, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Barbara was born on August 5, 1922 in Hampton, Iowa to Delos Wells and Lillian Timmerman Mott. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard Eugene "Gene" Straw; siblings, Delos Wells "Dee" Mott (Delores), Aneta Mary Frost (Buford "Jack"), and granddaughter Julia K. Bond.

Barbara lived life to its fullest. She grew up on the family farm in Hampton, Iowa, rode and cared for horses, farmed, played basketball, and enjoyed spending time on Leech Lake in Northern Minnesota, where her family had a cabin. The cabin was a favorite of Barbara's and her family. Many summers were spent fishing, boating, exploring beautiful Leech Lake, and lying about the number, and size of fish caught!
She played basketball throughout her high school career. In 1940, Barbara's senior year, her hard work paid off, as her team from Hansell High School won the women's basketball state championship.

Following high school, during World War II, Barbara enlisted in the Navy. She did her training in Chicago, at the Naval Training Station, then was stationed at the United States Naval Air Station in Quonset Point, RI and Anacostia D.C. She served as a Navy WAVE from October, 1943 to December, 1945, repairing aircraft instrument control panels, with the official title of: Aviation Machinist's Mate I, Third Class. When she was not working on Navy aircraft, Barb found time to play basketball for the Navy, and study dietetics.

After leaving the Navy, Barbara moved to Chicago where she married Richard Eugene "Gene" Straw of Hansel, Iowa, in February 1948. After marrying, Barb and Gene moved to Arizona for Gene to complete his degree in Business Administration. Son Rick was born in 1948. Gene graduated from the University of Arizona in 1950. After graduation, the couple returned to Iowa. Son Chuck was born in 1952, and quite by surprise, daughter Teresa in 1965. Among other endeavors in Hampton, Barb and Gene owned and operated two bowling alleys, one of which they built, considered "state-of-the-art" at that time. In 1972, Barbara and her family moved to Colorado Springs where Barbara began a career in apartment management.

Barb loved animals, and always had horses, dogs, cats and assorted farm animals and urban wildlife in her care while living in Iowa. The menagerie had to be down-sized when they moved to the "big city" of Colorado Springs, but the family always had one or two cats and at least one Labrador completing the family. For Barb and Gene's 50th wedding anniversary, a "lab parade", comprised of the family's 7 labs, marched by them, sporting sandwich boards that announced "Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Gene and Barb."

After retirement, Barb and Gene moved to the Wet Mountains in Southern Colorado where her sister Aneta Mary joined them. They lived in their mountain home until Gene suffered an accident in 1998 .They then moved to Greeley, Colorado to be closer to family residing in Loveland, Colorado.

Though Gene passed away in February of 1999, Barbara remained very active into her 80's, continuing to garden, vacation with family, and looking after her grandchildren. Barbara passed away peacefully at Lemay Avenue Health and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Collins, CO where she had resided for the past two years.

She is survived by her brother, David M. Mott (Mary Ellen Rimza.) Children, John Richard "Rick" Straw (Carole Shotwell), Charles D. Straw (Bonnie) and Teresa J. Warden (Chris). Grandchildren, Braxton Lambertsen, Jaqueline Prettyman (Brandon), Richard Delos "Rick" Straw, Justin Bond, Jamie Peterson (Tim), Rachel Heinzel (Ryan), Rebecca Bennion, Mackenzie Warden, and Westen Warden. Great-grandchildren, Payton Prettyman, Ashton Prettyman, Kaylee Bond, Isaac Bond, Jordon Mills, Tayler Mills, Julia Peterson, Hanna Heinzel, and Alex Bennion.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Crossroads Church, 5420 N. Taft Ave, Loveland, Colorado.