Elaine Taubman Gottmann

Elaine was born on December 26, 1927 in Oak Park, Illinois where she was raised with the support of extended family in the close knit neighborhood. After graduating from high school in 1946 she attended, and graduated, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. During her junior year at the college, she met and fell in love with Ernie Gottmann. They were married the summer of 1948. To this union three children were born: Mark, Sharon, and David.

Throughout the early years, the family spent time in Detroit, Michigan; Middletown, Ohio; and eventually they relocated to Littleton, Colorado where the children all graduated from high school. Elaine worked as a single parent teaching Business and Typing at both Littleton High School and at Heritage High School until her early retirement in 1986. Over the next few years following her retirement, Elaine, moved to Dallas, Texas and then settled in Sun City, Arizona.

Elaine was a gregarious person who never met a stranger. She was always ready to discuss her Cubs, Broncos, Bears, and her beloved University of Illinois teams. As an avid sports fan, Elaine, spent hours watching her teams and keeping up with different players.

Above all else, Elaine loved her family. One of the greatest tragedies to strike her was the death of her daughter, Sharon, from breast cancer in 1997. It is profound to bury one of your children.

Elaine was always ready to play Bridge, Rummy, or any board game. She loved the challenge and the comradery of getting together with friends and family to play games. To Elaine, playing games epitomized all things good in life.

Elaine also cherished domestic and international travel; visiting and catching up with friends; holidays with family; reading; cross word puzzles; learning new things about history which helped quench her voracious need to learn; and El Dorado.

Elaine was preceded in death by her mother and father, Adeline and Henry Taubman; daughter, Sharon Gottmann; and her brother, Jim Taubman.

Elaine leaves Mark of Sun City, Arizona; David and Lynn of Stratton, Colorado; Erin, Brandon, Isabel, and Rylee Hill of Akron, Colorado; and Bri, Matt, Benton, and Scarlett Kastner of Burlington, Colorado to mourn her passing.

A very special thanks is extended to El Dorado. Elaine was blessed to live among friends with activities that enriched her life over the past 9 years.

Please feel free to donate to a local charity of your choice in Elaine’s honor.