Estes Park resident Jane Kottler Arnold died December 30 at the Estes Park Medical Center.
She was born October 10, 1924 in Williamsport, Maryland to the Reverend Harry C. Kottler and Rose Miller Kottler. She earned a BA from Shepherd University and taught biology for 3 years at Boonsboro High School in Maryland. She later earned a MA at West Virginia University in Early Childhood Education and taught kindergarten at Boonsboro Elementary for 21 years.
On September 3, 1948, Jane married Joe Arnold, also a teacher at Boonsboro High School. They lived in Boonsboro for 44 years where they raised two children, Jan and Joe Jr. They were summer residents of Terra Alta, West Virginia where Joe was a counselor at Camp Lakewood and Jane enjoyed the quiet still of nature and a good book. Her favorite spot to read was the front porch of their cabin where hummingbirds traversed the porch to sip the nectar from the abundant rhododendron.
In 1992 they moved to Colorado after concluding that they could live in the Colorado mountains full time rather than just when visiting their son. Although leaving their Maryland and West Virginia roots was an adventure, Jane often said she would rather have the thrill of the roller coaster than the predictability of a merry-go-round. Jane and Joe retained their West Virginia cabin, however, and returned every year for a summer or fall retreat.
Jane will be remembered around town for her good humor and quick wit. She would often introduce herself and her husband as "I'm Calamity Jane and this is Sloppy Joe." She loved children and for many years she told children stories at the United Methodist Church as "Granny Jane." She also loved the outdoors and was fond of hiking in Upper Beaver Meadows looking for mountain bluebirds and pasque flowers in the spring.
Jane is survived by her husband Joe Arnold, Sr.; daughter Jan Warner of Hagerstown, Maryland; son Joe Jr. (Joey) of Estes Park; grandson Justin Warner of Brooklyn, New York; sisters Rose Anna Kottler of Cockeysville, Maryland and Patricia Morris of Irvington, Virginia.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 2:00 at the United Methodist Church in Estes Park. See www.allnut.com to send a message to Jane's family.
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Published in Estes Park Trail-Gazette on Jan. 20, 2015
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