Barbara Ruth Vratil

We are honoring the life of Barbara Ruth Vratil, 81, of Ft. Collins CO. Barb passed away peacefully at Lemay Ave Health and Rehab Facility on March 20th, 2024. She was born in Larned, Kansas on March 27, 1942, to Rodney and Agnes Warner. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Steve Vratil, her two children Troy (Lori) Vratil, and Lori (Bryan) Powell, five grandchildren, Tristan and Payton Vratil, Tyler, Makaela, and Keenan Powell, and a sister Janet (Randy) Miller.
Barb grew up on a farm in Larned KS with her parents and two siblings. After moving into town, she lived the quintessential small-town life during her school years and was involved in cheerleading, playing the clarinet in the marching band, singing in choirs, participating in church activities, and playing the piano.
She met her husband and the love of her life in high school, and they were married on June 21, 1963. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past June.
Barb graduated from nursing school at Fort Hays State University. She ultimately decided to spend her nursing career in Labor in Delivery where she flourished, helping bring life into this world countless times. Barb worked at Poudre Valley Hospital for 24 years as a Labor and Delivery nurse.
Barb and Steve moved to Colorado in 1977 and eventually made their home in Ft. Collins, CO where she lived for 42 Years. Together Barb and Steve traveled the world and vacationed often with their children and grandchildren.
Never one to sit still, Barb loved to bake and cook gourmet meals that she shared with friends and family. She was involved in numerous groups such as PEO, various choirs, volunteering, and with her church. She enjoyed spending her free time sewing, crafting, creating flower arrangements, reading, scrapbooking, attending musical plays and concerts, and helping Steve with his retail stores, but her true passion in life was her family and spending time with her kids and grandkids.
Barb's superpower was her uncanny ability to calm any human being during any situation with the utmost compassion and sensitivity. She was truly a hero in this regard.
She impacted countless people with her kind and beautiful soul, and her gracious and compassionate nature with her family and friends. She inspired her family and was an invaluable role model for them. She always tried to make everything she did for others special for them.
Barb was blessed to have lived a life full of love and joy, full of family and friends, and full of fun and adventure. Her family and friends will miss her dearly, but she will have an everlasting presence in our lives. We will have a gathering to honor Barb's life on Saturday, April 6th from 11:00 to 1:00 at Allnutt Funeral Service - Drake Road Chapel. A light lunch will be served as we share memories, stories, and our love for Barb.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Barb's memory to the CurePSP Foundation at www.psp.org, or to the PSP & CBD Foundation at www.pspcbdfoundation.org, to help raise awareness and research funding for Corticobasal Degeneration and other diseases in this category. Donations in Barb's memory can also be made to Pathway's Hospice of Northern Colorado at www.pathways-cares.org.