Iris M. Harms

Our beloved mother, Iris Maxine Harms, slipped away on November 20, 2015, in Greeley, CO. She was born on February 5, 1922, to Arthur and Elsie (Gimple) Cook. Her father delivered her during a snowstorm in the family’s sod home near Keota, Colorado. She grew up on a farm on the plains, where she and her ten siblings enjoyed playing jokes on each other. In later years, she liked telling stories about her childhood. “We ate beans and cornbread, and when we got tired of that, we had cornbread and beans,” she would say.

Iris met her first husband, William (Bill) Schreiner, when her older sister invited him to dinner at the family’s home. He noticed a “funny looking girl” flirting at him from across the table. He would later reveal that she was the one to propose marriage; it was planting season and he was busy, but he accepted. They were married in June of 1938 and settled to farm in Wellington, Colorado, where they raised three daughters, Elsie, Carol, and Phyllis. Iris was proud of her brown-eyed girls.

Iris worked many jobs throughout her life. She refined her cooking skills while working for a family that wanted to set up a restaurant where she could bake pies; however, she turned down the offer. In 1953, she and Bill sold their farm, and in 1960, they moved to Fort Collins. Iris worked for Woodward Governor for several years, and then later for a new company, Hewlett-Packard, that had opened a facility in Loveland. She made many friends while she was there, and retired after 20 years of service.

Iris and Bill were active members of Cupid’s Campers, often including their grandchildren in their mountain adventures. During these trips, the family would often play softball. Iris was a notorious cheat during these games but it was all in fun. The family enjoyed many lively get-togethers, which always included large meals. Everybody loved Iris’s cooking and swore that she made the world’s best gravy. She also spoiled the family with her delicious homemade noodles and holiday divinity.

In February, 1978, Iris and Bill took a vacation to Hawaii. During that trip, Bill passed away. In 1989, Iris married Wilbur Harms and moved to Haxtun, Colorado, where they lived happily together until his death in 2003.

Iris enjoyed her life. She loved cooking, shopping, collecting Depression glass, crocheting intricate doilies, and visits with friends and family. She loved her dogs, Mitzi and Prince, and taking long walks. Her family remembers her as a spitfire who liked to tease and have fun. They would like to thank her caretakers at The Bridge Assisted Living Center, Garden Square Assisted Living Center, and Hospice, for making the last years of her life comfortable.

In addition to her parents and late husbands, Iris was preceded in death by siblings Ralph Cook, Bruce Cook, Mike Cook, Vernon Cook, Toby Cook, Violet Fruhwirth, Velma Meyers, and Lavena Harms, and her stepson, Duane Harms. She is survived by sisters Wanda Cumings of Fort Collins, CO, and Ardyce (Frederick) Propp of Grand Junction, CO; daughters Elsie (Jim) Nogle of Bellevue, WA, Carol Frederick of Evans, CO, and Phyllis Stark of Greeley, CO; stepdaughters Leota (Arnie) Constance, and Elaine (Bob) Jones, and grandchildren, Jean (John) Kiley, Ward (Jill) Taylor, Jeff (Jenny) Stark, Laura (Doug) Fuchs, and Dianna Stark (Mike White), and their families, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held 11 am Tuesday at Resthaven Memory Gardens. A reception will follow at the Resthaven Reception Center. Family and friends can view the online obituary and sign the guestbook at www.resthavencolorado.com.