Tanya Hasslbauer

Tanya Hasslbauer, 63, was born in Pueblo, Colorado, to Owen and Betty Lehman. After a brief time in Albuquerque, New Mexico, her family settled in Golden, Colorado, where Tanya spent her school years. Growing up on property that allowed space for horses, she developed a love for riding and competed in hunter-jumper competitions throughout her teens. Tanya’s love of animals was a constant in her life—she always had pets, especially larger dogs such as her beloved Great Dane.

She graduated from Arvada West High School in 1980 and went on to take courses at Red Rocks Community College and Front Range Community College while working full-time for Coors Ceramic Division in Golden for more than 10 years.

In 1992, Tanya met her future husband, Michael (Mike) Hasslbauer, in Denver. After a year and a half in the city, Mike’s career took them to Mesa, Arizona, where Tanya began working at Motorola in the microchip fabrication division. Tanya and Mike were married in 1996.

Motherhood was Tanya’s greatest joy. In 1997 she welcomed her daughter, Rebecca, and later her son, Matthew. Choosing to be a stay-at-home mom, she continued her education at Central Arizona College, where she excelled academically. She was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and earned an Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology—what she humorously called her “Aw Sh*t degree,” a reflection of her sharp wit and sense of humor. She also enjoyed hobbies such as sewing, needlepoint, and canning food.

In 2008, the family relocated to Eagle, Idaho, where Tanya put her degree to use at St. Alphonsus & Elks Rehab, later part of St. Luke’s Health System in Boise. She worked at St. Luke’s for more than 10 years, often from home with her gray cat, Dracula, faithfully by her side.

Tanya faced a courageous two- and one-half year battle with cancer, continuing to work through challenging treatments until beginning hospice care.

She is survived by her husband, Michael; her children, Rebecca (Sam) and Matthew; her brother, John Lehman, and his wife, Christine. Tanya will be remembered for her strength, humor, and devotion to her family.