Barbara Steinmark

Barbara Steinmark, age 77, of Montrose, Colorado joined her Savior in paradise on the morning of January 26, 2019 at her daughter, Stacy’s home in Grand Junction. –

Barbara was born Barbara Ann Reitz in Lingle, Wyoming on July 19, 1941 to Henry and Mollie (Peppler) Reitz.  Barbara was the sixth of eight children including six sisters and one brother.  She spent most of her childhood in Nebraska and graduated from Bayard High School in 1959.  While she was an accomplished seamstress and had a keen eye for fashion design, she focused her studies on accounting and worked as a bookkeeper for 48 years.  She worked for CPA firms, banks, construction and real estate companies, and retired from Business Options of Montrose in 2007.  She was a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and was respected for her professionalism and attention to detail.  She received service and workmanship awards from the Montrose Rotary Club for her outstanding dedication and performance and “service above self”.

She married her childhood sweetheart, David A. Steinmark, on June 5, 1960 in a traditional German wedding ceremony held in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  Together they enjoyed 48 wonderful years of marriage, making their home in Nebraska, South Dakota, Arizona, and finally Colorado.  Barb’s family was her pride and joy.  She enjoyed every moment of raising their three children, guiding their lives with her unconditional love.  She tirelessly supported all of her children’s endeavors, not only teaching Sunday school and helping with homework and extracurricular activities but sewing costumes and clothing for many a special occasion.  She extended that loving care to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cooking with them and passing along family heritage and traditions with cultural recipes as well as sewing and crafting with and for them.

Barbara’s life passions were raising her children, gardening, canning, sewing, camping, and riding ATV’s through the beautiful backcountry of Colorado. She and David were best friends throughout their lives and loved spending time together working on projects for their home and for their children.  Barbara was an outstanding role model as a Christian, wife, mother, and sister.  She was devoted to her family and dedicated to her faith.  She was admired by her friends and family for her integrity, kindness, hard working nature, and positive attitude.  Barbara enjoyed playing cards with her local friends and supported the Magic Circle Theater.  She will be deeply missed.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, David, and is survived by her three children Stuart Steinmark (wife Sue [Hubert] and children: Sharyl Hazzard, Scott Steinmark, and Steven Steinmark), Stacy Tremblay (husband Tim and children: Blythe Brumley, Joshua Campbell, Nicolai Campbell, and Natasha Kocab), and Rebecca Coulter (husband Rich and child Riah Coulter).  Her extended legacy includes eight great-grandchildren (Cara Brumley; Elliotte, Everett, and Emmarie Hazzard; Tatyana, Annabelle, and Jocelyn Kocab; and Shaylie Steinmark).

Barbara showed amazing strength as she outlived David by almost ten years and valiantly battled stage four breast cancer for six years before finally succumbing to it.  Her faith continued to grow stronger and stronger which allowed her to be at peace knowing where her ultimate adventure would continue.  She is survived by her sisters Bettye Wilson, Shirley Vogel, Gailynn Huck, and Kathleen Jay and her sister-in-law Sharon Steinmark.  She was preceded in death by her father Henry Reitz, mother Mollie Reitz, brother Wilfred Reitz, and sisters Elsie Page and Evelyn Wunder.

A funeral service in honor and celebration of Barbara’s life will be officiated by Pastor Ben Garate on Thursday, January 31 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Chapel Montrose.  Internment and a graveside service will follow the funeral at Grandview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Barbara’s honor can be made to Grand Mesa Oncology at www.dcmhfoundation.org/ways-to-give/ (please specify Grand Mesa Oncology) or Hope West Hospice at www.hopewestco.org.

Arrangements are being handled under the direction and care of Brown’s Cremation and Funeral Service (904 N. 7th St., Grand Junction, CO 81501).  Visit the website (www.brownscremationservice.com) to sign the online register and send condolences to her family.