Barbara Cotter

How did it all start? Well, when I sat down to sketch out this remembrance, I realized it really began seventy-five years ago. After I returned from the service, I reunited with a high school buddy. He talked me into going to a German singing club. They were having a dance and girls would be there. I went there frequently and became involved with the Yougen Chore, a young people singing group. Through this group, I made many more lifelong friends, and as a result, I attended many more German functions.

In 1987, I found out that one of the couples I knew, along with several others, was going to Europe at the same time I was. They did not have the same itinerary but were planning to join up at various locations during their time there. I went to a meeting at the Beer Stuba and was introduced to people I did not already know. Those I did not know included Barbara and her husband Norm. I was going to Flam Norway, a beautiful town on Fjord that was accessed by a train that had at least eight sets of brakes. That was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. I also went to Sweden and returned to Germany and was able to visit many of the towns. I joined the group in Munich. At first, I rode with my old friends, but for whatever reason, I started riding with Barb and Norm. Norm had a heart condition, so Barb and I did some things alone, and this allowed me to get to know her.

Because Norm still played golf, he and I got together frequently; we also expanded our acquaintance by going to German events here in the area. The following year, Barb had a motorcycle accident that prevented her from going to Germany. The tickets were already purchased; Norm asked me if I would like to use her ticket. I said yes and our friendship was off and running. The following two years the three of us went to Germany.  Those were the last years Norm was able to make the trip, but our friendship continued to the extent that their children started referring to me as Uncle Bob.  Then Norm was taken away from us.  At his funeral, his daughter Lynn asked me not to forget her mother.  I did not see Barb for a couple of months and then our mutual friend suggested I might ask Barb if she wanted to attend a gathering of our mutual friends, I asked, and she gladly accepted.  That went well so we went out to dinner and a movie a couple of times, then we went out to a movie twice a week, then three times a week, then day trips, then it seemed most days we were in town we were doing something together.   I took a trip to visit my brother who lives in CN.  While I was there my brother suggested I come live with him and his wife Barbara.  I related this to Barb who responded, "over my dead body."  I presumed that we had equal feelings for each other.   Soon after I returned, and we were together I said, "Will you marry me?"   It took two nanoseconds for her response YES.   For whatever reasons we had at that particular time, we decided to kind of elope.  We arranged to go to Florida to visit her daughter.  Barb's mother, who I understand was a fan of mine, arranged with the minister in Lake Worth to marry us.  I arranged for my brother to come to Florida to be Best Man, Barb's daughter was Brides Maid, and with a gathering of no more than ten people, we were sent off on this wonderful 25 years of married life.

When we returned Lynn, who had said don't forget my mother, said "I didn't mean that."  She has forgiven me.

We traveled to Europe every year and made our base of operation out of Roppen, Austria which Norm had selected for a night's stay in 2000 and I had stayed for ten years.  After 9/11 we began going to National Parks here in the US.  We celebrated my ninetieth birthday and coincidently our twentieth wedding anniversary in Zion National Park with all my children and most of my grandchildren in 2016.

Becaus3 both Norm and I in earlier years had jobs that took us away from home often, and both Barb and I were now retired and could do whatever we wanted, I think I can say these last twenty-five years were the happiest of our lives.

Memorial visitation, Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. until the time of memorial service at l:00 p.m.   Will be held at Flossmoor Community Church, 2218 Hutchison Road, Flossmoor, IL

Barbara Swanson Cotter  May 7, 1932 - July 16, 2021

Dear Lord, today we bring the earthly remains of my beautiful wonderful loving friend and wife to deposit here until she and I can be physically and spiritually reunited when you call me home. We thank you for this joyous relationship for more than a quarter century of love and friendship. Amen.

August 19, 2021  Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery