Barbara Liebler
2023-09-25 2016-08-28
Barbara Isabel (Moore) Liebler
Former Fort Collins and Loveland City Councilwoman Barbara Liebler passed away on August 28, 2016 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
Born in Detroit in 1944 to Frank and Isabel Moore, the future artist and entrepreneur showed great promise when she was voted "Class Brain" for her Southfield High School class of 1962. Barbara went on to graduate with highest honors from Michigan State University in 1966. She completed graduate work towards a degree in English (American Literature) at the University of Michigan, before teaching high school English.
Barbara married the late Robert A. Liebler in 1966 and the couple moved to Vermont, where Bob did post-doctoral work at Dartmouth. It was here Barbara found a second calling in weaving, starting with napkins and small pieces, then moving on to clothing.
The couple moved to Fort Collins in 1972 for Bob's professorial position in mathematics at Colorado State University. For several years, Barbara taught weaving through the university's continuing education program. In the 1980s, Barbara founded Core Area Neighborhood, the first neighborhood-planning association in Fort Collins, and United Neighborhoods, a coalition of neighborhoods.
This work led to Barbara serving on the Fort Collins City Council and the Downtown Development Authority Board in the mid-1980s. She also wrote a column called "In the Beginning" for Interweave Magazine, published by Linda Ligon, who used the top of her washer/dryer to lay out the magazine.
It was during this period Barbara decided to be an art weaver and began creating large pieces for corporate offices. Her woven triptych hung for years above the Fort Collins City Council dias.
Barbara and Bob divorced in 1987 and she moved to Loveland in the early 1990s to work for Interweave Press. Here she continued her political work, serving on the Loveland Planning Commission and the Loveland City Council. After five years, she returned to Fort Collins to found Colorado Case Company, the first manufacturer to create soft-sided cases for bluegrass instruments.
Barbara sold Colorado Case and ran for election in 2006 for Larimer County Assessor. With William (Bill) Jenkins, she then founded Cycle Tote, which manufactured bicycle trailers. In 2007, Barbara was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and the couple sold Cycle Tote to concentrate on her health. While working towards recovery, the couple renovated their historic home on Mathews Street. They married in 2011.
Barbara faced cancer with a sense of humor, determination, and positive attitude, leading to nine years of remission. Sadly, her cancer turned malignant in June 2016 and Barbara prepared to face her death.
She passed surrounded by friends and family, certain that she had left a lasting legacy.
Barbara is survived by husband Bill Jenkins, daughter Carolyn (grandchildren Avery and Miles Liebren); son Richard; sister Frances Smith (David); and brother Campbell Moore (wife Eloise, nephews Brian and Steven and niece Beth).
A celebration of Barbara's life, including a bluegrass jam, is scheduled for Sunday September 25 from noon to 2pm at Avogadro's Number in Fort Collins.
Former Fort Collins and Loveland City Councilwoman Barbara Liebler passed away on August 28, 2016 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
Born in Detroit in 1944 to Frank and Isabel Moore, the future artist and entrepreneur showed great promise when she was voted "Class Brain" for her Southfield High School class of 1962. Barbara went on to graduate with highest honors from Michigan State University in 1966. She completed graduate work towards a degree in English (American Literature) at the University of Michigan, before teaching high school English.
Barbara married the late Robert A. Liebler in 1966 and the couple moved to Vermont, where Bob did post-doctoral work at Dartmouth. It was here Barbara found a second calling in weaving, starting with napkins and small pieces, then moving on to clothing.
The couple moved to Fort Collins in 1972 for Bob's professorial position in mathematics at Colorado State University. For several years, Barbara taught weaving through the university's continuing education program. In the 1980s, Barbara founded Core Area Neighborhood, the first neighborhood-planning association in Fort Collins, and United Neighborhoods, a coalition of neighborhoods.
This work led to Barbara serving on the Fort Collins City Council and the Downtown Development Authority Board in the mid-1980s. She also wrote a column called "In the Beginning" for Interweave Magazine, published by Linda Ligon, who used the top of her washer/dryer to lay out the magazine.
It was during this period Barbara decided to be an art weaver and began creating large pieces for corporate offices. Her woven triptych hung for years above the Fort Collins City Council dias.
Barbara and Bob divorced in 1987 and she moved to Loveland in the early 1990s to work for Interweave Press. Here she continued her political work, serving on the Loveland Planning Commission and the Loveland City Council. After five years, she returned to Fort Collins to found Colorado Case Company, the first manufacturer to create soft-sided cases for bluegrass instruments.
Barbara sold Colorado Case and ran for election in 2006 for Larimer County Assessor. With William (Bill) Jenkins, she then founded Cycle Tote, which manufactured bicycle trailers. In 2007, Barbara was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and the couple sold Cycle Tote to concentrate on her health. While working towards recovery, the couple renovated their historic home on Mathews Street. They married in 2011.
Barbara faced cancer with a sense of humor, determination, and positive attitude, leading to nine years of remission. Sadly, her cancer turned malignant in June 2016 and Barbara prepared to face her death.
She passed surrounded by friends and family, certain that she had left a lasting legacy.
Barbara is survived by husband Bill Jenkins, daughter Carolyn (grandchildren Avery and Miles Liebren); son Richard; sister Frances Smith (David); and brother Campbell Moore (wife Eloise, nephews Brian and Steven and niece Beth).
A celebration of Barbara's life, including a bluegrass jam, is scheduled for Sunday September 25 from noon to 2pm at Avogadro's Number in Fort Collins.