Constance Ethel Klingler

“And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” - Mark 4:30-32 Constance “Connie” Ethel Klingler, 73, of Fort Collins, Colorado; formerly of Wisconsin suffered a stroke and passed away days later on March 12, 2022 at University Hospital in Aurora. She was born May 14, 1948 in Greenfield, WI to Alfred and Elsie (Price) Ward. Connie grew up and lived in Southeastern Wisconsin and enjoyed spending time going to the lake with her family. There were many road trips across the country to visit friends and family. Being the youngest of her siblings, she spent many visits with her oldest brother, Oscar and his wife Louise, and her niece, Candy, who was more of a best friend than a niece as they were only a few years apart in age. She graduated from Whitnall High School. She attended courses at UW Whitewater and obtained her X-Ray technologist certification from Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital and later attended the University of Wisconsin in Waukesha where she studied Communications and earned her Associate’s Degree. Connie met her future husband, Darrell Cottrell (now married to Jean), in 1966 through family. A love of VW Bugs was shared by both and they also went to dances, the beach and drive-in movies. In 1969, they married and had three daughters while living initially in Waukesha and later in Mukwonago, WI. Trips to Florida, South Dakota and camping “Up North” Wisconsin were enjoyed greatly. They later divorced in 1980. She met Donnie Gabor in 1986 and they were married in 1987 in Germantown, WI. Connie and Donnie enjoyed country music concerts, line dancing, horseshoes, cribbage and camping “Up North” starting out with a pop-up camper and eventually upgrading to the “Summer House” park model home on the 9th hole at Green Lake Campground. Notable trips included travels to the Kentucky Derby, Williamsburg, Washington, D.C., New York state and Niagara Falls. They loved spending time with family and friends, especially their granddaughters. Donnie (“Just Plain Ol’ Gramps”) passed away in 2005 and was followed by their beloved dog, Not-Me. She met William “Bill” Klingler on Match.com and they later married at The Little Brown Church in Iowa in 2009. They loved traveling, including trips to Mexico, Alaska ,Illinois , New England, Oregon, Texas, Las Vegas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Tennessee, Missouri, Chicago, and the mountains of Colorado. Connie and Bill also very much enjoyed their time at their second home in Florida at The Villages. They were very active in The Villages life: enjoying golf, pickle-ball, trips to the square to listen to and dance to live music and socializing with their neighbors and many friends. Bill passed away in 2018 in Wisconsin after a hard-fought battle with cancer. During her career, Connie worked as an X-Ray tech and later as an office manager and administrator for multiple firms including medical practices. She worked for a structural engineering firm in Wisconsin prior to retiring in 2013. Most recently, she advised her dear nephew, Herb, with his new business and even helped choose a name! In 2018, Connie “Grammy” moved to Fort Collins to be near her family in Colorado. She volunteered with the non-profit Chair Table Home in Fort Collins and served on her HOA Board for two years. Proving that you’re never too old to learn something new, she decided to join a ukulele club and started playing with much enthusiasm. Connie also liked to call herself a “gamer”, having become an avid June’s Journey player. She loved singing to her grandpuppy but just couldn’t get her to bark on cue despite being something of a dog whisperer to her grandpuppies. Connie loved spending time with her extended family and friends and embraced them wholeheartedly. She was so proud to support and encourage all of her children (biological and collected) along with her grandchildren and their chosen partners with kind words and not-so-secret good deeds. Many a day was spent cheering on a grandchild in a scholastic, sporting or musical event. Just a few of her favorite pastimes included camping, crocheting, knitting, reading, watching Hallmark movies, playing the ukulele and piano, golfing, Bunko with the ladies, scouring rummage sales/thrift stores/antique shops for the best finds and meeting new people. The annual “Plant Day” excursion to choose new plants and flowers for the season was a tradition greatly enjoyed and she loved spending time in her gardens and on her patio in Fort Collins. Connie was strong in her faith and attended many houses of worship throughout her life. She was raised as a Baptist but didn’t feel you needed to be in a specific church to be close to God. Her faith was evident throughout her life and she embraced her spirituality and her relationship with Him. She treasured her many friends from near and far and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Thankful to have shared her life are her three daughters; Cassandra (Ken) Krebs, Melissa (Michael) Foerster and Heather Cottrell, grandchildren; Caroline Krebs (Dakota Gradel), Jennifer Krebs (Kasey Wegner), Haley, Erika and Gabriel Foerster, her brother, Edward Ward, and many beloved nephews, nieces and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Elsie; her dear friend and niece Candace; two husbands, Donnie and Bill; and beloved siblings: Johnny, Joyce, Alfred Jr. and Oscar. “I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it’s not what the world holds for you, it’s what you bring to it.” ― Anne of Green Gables Connie’s family will host a Celebration of Life in Fort Collins, CO and also in Delafield, WI. Memorial gifts may be made to “Chair Table Home” in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at AdamsonCares.com.