Finding a specific tribute in a sea of digital noise is tough. When you are looking for Fort Collins CO obituaries, you aren't just looking for data; you are usually looking for a person. Maybe a neighbor who used to wave from their porch on Mountain Avenue, or a colleague from CSU who finally retired only to pass too soon.
It's heavy stuff. Honestly, the process of finding these records has changed a lot lately. We used to just grab the Sunday paper, but now? It's a mix of legacy websites, funeral home portals, and local archives.
Where the Records Live Now
The Fort Collins Coloradoan remains the primary "official" record for the city. If you want to see who passed away this week, their partnership with Legacy.com is basically the go-to. Most families still shell out for a paid notice there because it’s what people know. You’ll find names like Juanita Irene Rodriguez or Jarad Michael Branch listed there recently, with full details on their lives and when the services are happening.
But here is the thing: not every family goes the newspaper route anymore. It’s expensive. Kinda pricey, actually. So, you have to check the individual funeral home sites.
Local Funeral Home Archives
If the person was handled by Bohlender Funeral Chapel, their obituary won't always pop up immediately on a Google search for the newspaper. You have to go to their specific site. They've been a staple on Olive Street since 1960. I’ve noticed they tend to host very detailed "social obituary" pages where people leave long, heartfelt stories.
Then you have Allnutt Funeral Service on Drake Road. They are part of a larger network now (Dignity Memorial), but they still keep deep local roots. Their archives are massive. If you’re looking for someone like Sandra Ota or Justin Craig Schifter, their portal is often more up-to-date than the general search engines.
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- Goes Funeral Care: Often handles more personalized or unique services.
- Resthaven Memorial Gardens: Usually the place for those with specific burial plots on Highway 287.
- Viegut Funeral Home: A family-owned option in nearby Loveland that frequently serves Fort Collins families.
Searching for Fort Collins CO Obituaries for Genealogy
Maybe you aren't looking for someone who passed away yesterday. Maybe you're digging into the 1980s or 90s. This is where it gets interesting. The Fort Collins History Connection—a collaboration between the local library and the museum—has digitized a staggering amount of records.
The Larimer County Genealogical Society is another powerhouse. They have databases that index obituaries from the Coloradoan dating back decades. If you’re looking for a name starting with "B," for instance, you might find dozens of entries from 1988 to 1996, like Archie Bachman or Pearl Barker. These indexes are literal goldmines for family tree researchers because they often list maiden names and surviving siblings that help you bridge the gap between generations.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye in Print
Writing an obituary for the Coloradoan in 2026 isn't just about the words. It’s a business transaction. Starting prices often hover around $60 for a very basic notice, but once you add a photo and a few paragraphs, that price jumps.
Most people don't realize that you can submit these yourself, but it's usually easier to let the funeral director handle it. They have the "verification" the papers require. If you do it yourself, you might need to provide a death certificate or the contact info for the crematorium just to prove the notice is legitimate. It’s a safeguard against prank notices, which, believe it or not, used to be a real problem.
What to Look For in a Modern Notice
A modern Fort Collins obituary is different than the ones from thirty years ago. Back then, they were dry. Just facts.
"Born here, died there, survived by these people."
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Now? They are stories. You’ll see mentions of a person’s favorite hiking trail in Horsetooth Reservoir or their love for a specific local brewery. When you are reading Fort Collins CO obituaries, look for the "Celebration of Life" details. Increasingly, these aren't held in churches. You might see a service scheduled at the Agave Room at the Rio or a gathering at Timberline Church.
Practical Steps for Finding or Placing a Notice
If you are currently trying to track down a service or publish a tribute, here is the most efficient way to handle it without getting overwhelmed.
To Find a Recent Obituary:
First, check the Coloradoan via Legacy.com. If nothing shows up, search the specific websites for Bohlender, Allnutt, and Goes Funeral Care. Use the person's full name and "Fort Collins" in quotes to narrow it down.
To Research Historical Records:
Visit the Larimer County Vital Records office at 1525 Blue Spruce Drive. As of January 2026, they charge about $25 for a death certificate. For just the obituary text, the Poudre River Public Library District has microfilm and digital archives that are free to access if you have a library card.
To Post a New Tribute:
Decide if you want a "Death Notice" (short, cheap, just the facts) or a full "Obituary" (longer, includes a photo, more expensive). Contact the funeral home first; they usually get a better rate or at least handle the formatting so it doesn't look wonky in the print edition.
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If you are doing it solo, email obituaries@coloradoan.com to get a quote. Be sure to include the date you want it to run. If you want it in the Sunday paper, you generally need to have everything finalized and paid for by Thursday afternoon.
The process of honoring a life in Northern Colorado has become a bit more fragmented with the rise of digital platforms, but the heart of it remains the same. Whether it's a small notice for a long-time resident or a digital memorial that reaches across the country, these records serve as the final chapter of a local story.
When you find the record you’re looking for, take a second to look at the photos. In Fort Collins, those photos often show people outdoors—fishing the Poudre, biking the Spring Canyon trails, or just sitting in a backyard in the 80524 zip code. Those details are what make these obituaries more than just a list of dates.
For those conducting genealogical research, start your search at the Larimer County Genealogical Society website. If you are looking for immediate service information, the individual funeral home "Upcoming Services" pages are updated more frequently than the daily newspaper.