Karin Ida Rawlings

March 21, 1949 – April 23, 2026 

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved Karin Ida Rawlings, who passed away on April 23, 2026, in Evergreen, Colorado, at the young age of 77. She was surrounded by her adoring family, wrapped in the overwhelming love of those who cherished her most. 

Karin was born on March 21, 1949, in Augsburg, Germany, to Willibald and Hilda Preiter. She grew up in her home country of Germany before beginning a brave new chapter in the United States after her husband completed his military service following the Vietnam War. Leaving Germany for America was no small thing, but Karin carried her strength, resilience, and beautiful Bavarian spirit with her throughout her life. 

Karin was a dedicated employee at Coors, where she retired with the highest honors. She brought the same devotion, pride, and care to her work that she brought to every part of her life. 

She had a deep love for music, from her favorite artist, Rod Stewart, to Pavarotti and everything in between. Music brought her joy, comfort, and expression, and it was one of the many ways her vibrant spirit shone. 

Karin was passionate about flowers and spent every chance she could tending to her beautiful garden. With patience, vision, and love, she transformed dry, barren dust into a flower garden oasis a living reflection of the beauty she carried within her. Her garden was more than a place; it was a testament to her nurturing spirit and her ability to bring life, color, and beauty wherever she planted her hands and heart. 

She also had a huge heart for animals, a tenderness and compassion she lovingly passed down to her children and grandchildren. Her love for all things living, flowers, animals, family, and friends was one of the many ways she made the world softer and more beautiful. 

Karin was loyal and fierce when it came to her family. She gave everything for her girls and raised them to become exceptional mothers, just as she was. With her beautiful Bavarian accent, she had a way of creating the sweetest and most memorable “Mom-isms,” mixing up just the perfect amount of words to make everyone smile and adopt them into their daily conversations. When someone came to her discouraged, she would lovingly say, “You ain’t gotta worry about a thing, tomorrow is another day.” Her words, her warmth, and her loving energy were impossible to resist. 

Karin leaves behind her loving husband, John Rawlings, to whom she was a beloved wife, best friend, and the love of his life; her three beloved daughters, Christina Curtis (Bob), Alexandra Schmidt (TJ), and Michelle Brown (Nate); and the family she so deeply loved. 

She was also the best Oma to the grandchildren she was so incredibly proud of: Brigette Matthews, Christian Curtis, Brianna Curtis, Ava Schmidt, Zoie Brown, and Emma Brown. Her grandchildren are a beautiful part of her legacy, and the love she shared with them will continue to live on through their memories of her and the loving lives they continue to lead. 

Karin was preceded in death by her parents, Willibald and Hilda Preiter, and her brother, Wolfgang Preiter. 

We loved our momma so much. To say she will be missed is an enormous understatement. She was the heart of our family, a source of comfort, strength, laughter, and love. Her life was a beautiful garden of devotion, music, kindness, humor, loyalty, grace and the seeds she planted in the hearts of those who loved her will continue to bloom for generations to come. 

We love you, Mom, forever and always.