Harriet Rose Couillard

Harriet Rose Couillard (née Kahre) was born September 6, 1925 in Denver, Colorado. She was the third of five girls born to Chris and Rose Kahre. Harriet died on August 21, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. She was preceded in death by her husband, David, her parents, Chris and Rose Kahre, her daughter, Debbie Couillard and her sister, Velda Hecht.

Harriet was baptized on October 25, 1925 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greeley, Colorado and confirmed her baptismal vow in 1939 at Emmaus Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado. She was an active member of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Westminster.

Harriet spent her early years on the family farm in Osgood, Colorado (35 miles east of Greeley). In 1930, the family moved to north Denver where Harriet attended Emmaus Lutheran School. There, she learned the verses of many hymns and could still sing them from memory in her later years. In 1943, Harriet graduated from North High School where she played violin. She was in the school orchestra, in a trio which played for teas and radio and the All-City Orchestra, which was a selected group of orchestra musicians from the five Denver high schools that operated at that time. She attended Central Business College and worked as a secretary for two businesses in downtown Denver.

In January 1945, Harriet met Dave Couillard when he was stationed at Lowry Air Field in Denver. Harriet and Dave were engaged in June 1945 and married at Emmaus Lutheran Church in a double ceremony with her sister and her husband on October 21, 1945. Harriet and Dave lived in Denver, Kimball, Nebraska, and Colby, Kansas before they became some of the first residents of Broomfield, Colorado, living there for 55 years. They moved to Porter Place in Denver in 2011.

Harriet and Dave were blessed with three children, Richard (Sharon), Pamela (David Kurth), and Debbie (deceased); two grandchildren, Katy (Jeremy Havens) and Sarah Johnson (Mike Genova); eight step-grandchildren and 20 step-great grandchildren. While in Broomfield, they helped start Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and Harriet was very active with the ladies’ guild and teaching Sunday School. Harriet was one of the five founders of what is now the Bal Swan Children’s Center in Broomfield, a school that serves children with and without disabilities. Harriet worked as church secretary for Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church for many years when her children were older. She also owned Old Possum Bookstore in Broomfield. She was a member of the International Toastmistress Clubs for over 30 years and held a variety of offices. She was an active member of Broomfield Republican Women and numerous service groups including the Good Shepherd Auxiliary (which is now Bethesda Auxiliary), church ladies’ guilds, and the Residents’ Council at Porter Place. She was also the volunteer librarian at Porter Place. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, Dave, especially to conventions of the Colorado Independent Automobile Dealers Association. She really enjoyed parties.

Harriet was loved by her family and the many friends she made at church, Porter Place and other locations over her long life.

Memorials in memory of Harriet may be given to Bethesda Auxiliary Fund, Bethesda Lutheran Communities, 600 Hoffmann Dr., Watertown, WI 53094, or the charity of your choice.