Barbara Jane (Kluth) Cowen

Barbara Jane (Kluth) Cowen, 87, passed away on Dec. 30, 2022, in Pueblo, Colorado.

Barbara was born on Feb. 9, 1935, to Leo and Mary Jane (Bolen) Kluth in Nevada, Missouri.  She had no siblings and was raised between her parents and grandparents.  She always credited her Grandmother, Anna Mae (Peters) Kluth, as the loving force of her childhood.

Barbara worked in a Catholic hospital from age 16 to pay her tuition for Catholic high school. Upon graduation, she worked her way through Saint Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri to become an RN.  She supported herself and her family throughout her life in hospitals. Her last job was as a Medical Transcriptionist and Coder for the Veteran’s Administration in Denver, Colorado.  She retired in 1996 to Pueblo.

She was married to Glen J. Cowen from 1957 to 1976 and had four daughters:  Paula Cowen (John) Belfrage of Pierce, Colorado, Jane Cowen (Brad) Fletcher of South Berwick, Maine, Liz Cowen (Dave) Furman of Morrison, Colorado and Jennifer (Jeff) Myers of Pueblo, Colorado.

Once retired, Barbara was able to immerse herself in her garden, her art (she was primarily a fiber artist), reading, and the care of her many pets.  Barbara loved her family and sharing her love of history, art, nature, museums, libraries, and animals with them.  She was loved and is missed.

She is survived by all of her daughters; 13 grandchildren, Brice Thompson, Seth Thompson, Sean Belfrage, Sojourner Fletcher, Freeman Fletcher, Martin Furman, Matthew Furman, Micah Furman, Brittney Miles, Olivia Soto, Jake Myers, and Emily Myers; and seven great-grandchildren, Keeley Miles, Ashlynn Miles, Harlow Soto, Niah Soto, Nash Soto, David Cardinal III, and Finn Thompson.  She was preceded in death by one grandson, Bradley Thompson.

Celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. June 19, 2023, in the Montgomery & Steward Banquet Hall. Online condolences, www.montgomerysteward.com