Barbara Ellen Baird Hauck

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Barbara Hauck, who departed peacefully on September 27, just a few days shy of her 83rd Birthday.   Barbara was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She was known for her boundless energy, generosity and volunteerism.  Born on October 1,1941 in Kokomo, IN, Barbara spent her early years as an Army brat, living in Guam, Turkey, many locations in Europe and the US, attending 13 schools along the way.  She graduated from Stephen’s Jr. College in Columbia, Missouri with an Associate in Arts Degree in 1962. Her course of study was in Elementary Education with primary electives in Social Studies (Psychology and Sociology), Typing, and Shorthand. She was a legal secretary in Washington, D.C. early in her career. She met  James Hauck in 1962 in the  Washington D.C. area and they married in 1964 in Bloomington, Indiana. They lived in South Dakota, Kansas, Illinois, and Colorado and raised three children- Daryl, Tanya, and Dan. During her homemaker years she served in various volunteer positions including Lutheran Social Services, American Red Cross, International Relations Committee, and Sister City Commision in Peoria, Illinois. She also worked for the school district in Peoria. She developed a passion for meeting new people and trying new activities.  The family moved to Colorado Springs in 1981. She put her amazing organizational skills as an executive secretary to use starting up the new Rampart High School in 1982 and joining the United States Space Foundation in 1986 as their administrative secretary. She loved children and started her own daycare in her home for six babies (0-2 years) in the 1990’s. She was also the author of the children’s stories “Dribbleworks- A Very Precocious Racoon”. Barbara was a vibrant member of her community actively participating in church circles, choir, and the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O. Sisterhood). She also loved to paint and developed her oil and watercolor painting skills in her later years. Her faith and her love for serving others brought joy to many, and her warmth will be profoundly missed.  She is survived by her devoted husband Jim, her beloved children Daryl Hauck (Amy) of Albuquerque, NM; Tanya Hauck Haight (David) of Gold Hill, OR; and Daniel Hauck (Missy) of Albuquerque, NM; grandchildren Nathan, Jayson, Amanda, Grace, Trevor and India, and her sisters Beverly and Becky, as well as countless friends who were touched by her generous spirit. She was preceded in death by her sister Elizabeth Baird and her parents Frances Lybrook Baird and Gilbert Baird. A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held on November 8, 2024 at 1:00 PM at First Lutheran Church, 1515 Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80907.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First Lutheran Church Memorial fund, or the P.E.O. Scholarship fund (www.peointernational.org).  Barbara’s memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.