Patti Ann Rothwell

Patti was born July 6, 1936 in Sedalia, MO, to George and Cleo Brown. She was the youngest of three children; oldest brother Bobby, and sister Jerri. At a young age they moved to Colorado, where she graduated from East High School in Denver. She met and married a young man in the Air Force in 1954, named Richard Weldon Kruckman. In 1955, she gave birth to her son Richard Douglas Kruckman. They moved to California, but she and little Doug soon moved back to Colorado, and with the help of her mother raised her son for the next 5 years. She then met John Rothwell, and they were married in 1962. In 1963, her sister Jerri passed away, and she became the legal guardian of Jerri's two children; Vikki 14, and David 12. Patti loved and raised Vikki and David as her own daughter and son. She divorced for the second and last time in 1967. Cleo and Patti finished raising the three children from that time on. Family always came first in Patti's eyes and heart. After taking in one of Vikki's best friends, Stephanie, they had five different last names under one roof; Brown, Rothwell, Kruckman, Bittle, and Newman! Patti supported her family by working in the insurance industry for approximately 40 years. She was one of the first women to achieve the title of CPIW (Certified Public Insurance Woman). She ended her career as a senior underwriter for St. Paul Insurance Company. For several years early in her career work, she took a part-time job during the Christmas season at Labelle's catalog, so she could provide the most for her children. Patti enjoyed attending Doug's baseball and softball games for 20+ years. At one of Doug's fast pitch softball games when he was 22, after the game and the outcome not so good, Patti at 41 approached the umpire to tell him a few choice words, and was physically pushed by the umpire, causing a major maylay! She was very passionate about Doug's ball games. At times through Doug's playing career, his teammates would say, ""Doug, can you please tell your mom to shut up?!"" It made for some embarrassing yet memorable times. Patti's hobbies included bowling, horseback riding, gardening, and vacationing with family and friends. Every Summer Patti and family would drive to Sedalia to visit Big Mom and Big Pop (her grandparents) and brother Bobbie. Patti was a clean freak, both inside and outside of the house. She'd be outside sweeping leaves off the front porch, even when there were just 4 leaves! Patti enjoyed her retirement years by keeping tabs on her family, and vacationing with her best friend Diane (see picture). They went to Hawaii and Mexico often, and Las Vegas at least one a year. She was bound and determined to hit the million dollar jackpot on the slot machines! Mom battled through many illnesses throughout her life, but would seldom complain. Being hospitalized almost exclusively for her last 6 months, she said she just wanted to go home for a ""couple of weeks"" before she started her journey to heaven. On her 14th day of being at home in Hospice care, and with Doug at her side, she was taken by her guardian angels peacefully in her sleep at 6:03am on July 2, 2015. Patti dedicated her life to her family. She lived life, loved life, and shared her happiness with others to the fullest. In a letter she left for Doug to open after she left for heaven to be with Jesus, her last sentence was, ""All of you be happy and enjoy your life, it turns out to be pretty short. - Mom"" Preceding her in death are mother and father Cleo and George Brown, sister Jerri Bittle, son David Bittle, nephew Chris Brown, and granddaughter Nesha Falletta She is survived by son and daughter-in law Doug and Susie Kruckman, daughter and son-in-law Vikki and Dan Jankowski, brother and sister-in-law Bob and Gloria Brown, grandchildren Gavin, Jason, Jay, Brandon, and great-grandchildren Morgan, Tristin, Caleb, Matthew and Caroline. A Memorial Service will be held in Patti's honor on Friday, July 24, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home located at 11150 East Dartmouth Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80014. There will be a reception following the service at The HeartLight Center. The time of fellowship will continue at the Kruckman residence following the reception at the Horan & McConaty HeartLight Center.