Corinne Harriet Peck

Fort Collins, Colo. — Who would have predicted that Corinne H. Peck, the quiet, reserved preacher's wife of a talkative, gregarious man of the cloth would become a world traveler, planner and tour organizer on her own after retirement?

Corinne, 88, passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at home. She was assisted by hospice care following a brief illness. A Fort Collins resident since 1982, she formerly worked at the Transfort bus facility until 1997. She was married to retired minister John Henry Peck for 62 years prior to his death in 2015.

Dressed in Sunday best, Corinne boarded a TWA 707 en route to an expatriate adventure in war-torn Egypt during 1969–70, living on edge as a stranger in a strange land. Subsequent trips were pleasure jaunts of her own planning to Australia, China, Europe, South America and back to Egypt, introducing new friends (and old) to the wonders of new vistas.

Her youth in the rural Midwest did not foretell a life of international adventures. Following her home birth on March 24, 1932, to Jacob and Elsie Koolbeck in Boyden, Iowa, Corinne grew up in the Dutch community of Sioux Center before moving to Garner and meeting life partner and fellow classmate John Henry (whose house was behind hers) on VE Day in 1945. A 1950 graduate of Garner High School, Corinne excelled in school and was in marching band.

She attended business classes before their marriage on Sept. 7, 1952 (a fait accompli by designated character roles — portraying Joseph and Mary in the church Nativity scene, and husband and wife in the junior class play). She worked for the ROTC commander while John Henry finished classes at Iowa State University in Ames, then moved with him to Fort Belvoir, Va., during the Korean War.

Three children later, Corinne's days were filled with family life as a wife and mother, with the added responsibilities of being the proper "preacher's wife," a role John Henry deemed a full-time, unpaid profession. Her "tenure" included Presbyterian churches in Nebraska (North Platte and Falls City) and Ohio (Lancaster) before moving back to Ames (and a second administrative assistant post at Iowa State), then Colorado where she joined the City of Fort Collins staff. At her Transfort farewell party, she drove a bus (a few feet in the parking lot), later displaying her "Corinne Court" metal street sign gift in the garage.

An accomplished seamstress, she handmade curtains and complete wardrobes for herself and family, including school outfits, doll clothes, prom and wedding dresses — even suitcoats. She ventured into counted cross-stitch, which resulted in countless Christmas decorations, wall decor and baby samplers.

Among her likes: jigsaw puzzles (her final activity), travel, going out for lunch or dinner, cards and letters, keeping accurate financial records, ice cream, maintaining a clean house, movies, the Broncos, her friends, her family. Dislikes: being rushed, being late, being pushed to make a decision, making a scene, the current political scene, swimming, staying out too late, shopping.

Living among strong personalities, from her parents to her spouse to her children, she drew from her quiet strength (and not insignificant Dutch stubbornness) to help guide others to personal and professional accomplishments.

A reader, she volunteered as a book sorter with Poudre River Friends of the Library for several years. She was a longtime member of Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC, in Fort Collins, most recently active in the Women's Faith & Life Connection group and First Name Club. Memorial gifts should be directed to the church (plymouthucc.org) or the library (poudrelibraries.org).

Among her survivors are daughters, Deborah Peck (John Johnson) of Fort Collins and Katherine Peck of Denver, son Steven (Mary) Peck of Broomfield; five grandchildren, Michael and Rachel Peck Johnson, Timothy Peck, Marguerite Peck and Spencer Peck; one brother, Richard (Marjorie) Koolbeck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Marilyn Bentley of Wichita, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at a later date.