Karla (Baur) Tillotson (2021)

BAUR, GUTZ, LARSON, TILLOTSON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:26

Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
December 3, 2021

Karla Baur Tillotson, 87, died on December 2, 2021, from complications of very recently diagnosed cancer. She was born in Des Moines on September 25, 1934, the first child of Edward and Lorraine (Gutz) Baur, and grew up on a Madison County farm, attending a one-room country school where she was the only student in her class through eighth grade. She graduated from Winterset High School and attended Iowa State University, where she was tapped for Mortar Board. A member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, she served as president, colonized a chapter at Kansas State University while earning a degree in food science. She wrote "round-robin" letters with her sorority sisters for six decades, which culminated their guest appearance on The TODAY Show in 2020.

Coming from a family of food writers, Karla worked as a foods editor for Household magazine in Topeka, Kansas, and as a cookbook editor at Better Homes and Gardens in Des Moines. Later, she would join Creative Foods, Inc., in West Des Moines.

A blind date blossomed into a 55-year marriage. Karla married Drew Tillotson, a dashing Des Moines attorney, in 1961. They made their home in Windsor Heights and had three children.

Karla was devoted to her community. She served as president of the YWCA Board of Directors and president of the Des Moines Symphony Guild. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Des Moines Symphony, Red Cross, United Way of Central Iowa, and Lutheran Services in Iowa. Karla was a member of the Junior League of Des Moines (editor of the Call Board), Des Moines Founders Garden Club, Grant Wood Questers, PEO, and Faith Lutheran Church.

One of Karla's greatest passions was gardening. She and Drew took an ordinary suburban lot and cultivated a formal Williamsburg-style sanctuary of perennials, with roses as the crown jewel. Known as Brick Haven—each plot framed by historic paving bricks collected by Drew—their garden was selected to be photographed and documented for the Garden Club of America Collection at the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens. Summertime bouquets were a mainstay on the dinner table and a regular pick-me-up for family and friends. One of the first jobs assigned to her children was weeding.

In the 1980s, Karla discovered international travel. She visited England and France several times as well as Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, St. John in the Virgin Islands, and Oaxaca, Mexico. Her dear friend Millie Haynie organized some of these tours, and others were through the Garden Club of America. She also managed to squeeze in regular theater trips to New York City.

Karla delighted in entertaining and planning social events—luncheons, cocktail parties, dinners, and more. A highlight was hosting her daughter Laura's wedding, which was held in the backyard and served as a perfect excuse to redecorate the house entirely.

Karla was a lifelong bridge player, starting with a nightly family game at age 7, and continuing into adulthood. She liked to win, and when she didn't, her opponents could expect to hear loud complaining until her luck changed, at which point complaining was replaced by triumphant crowing. As her family well understood, her ruthless approach extended to cribbage, Mexican train dominoes, and even Go Fish.

Karla was a leader in everything she did. She never hesitated to step in and help—or take charge if needed. Karla never said a malicious or unkind word about anyone. She had a way of connecting and being supportive, always. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, and everyone who knew her felt fortunate to have her joyful sparkle in their lives.

Karla was preceded in death by her husband, Drew, and sister, Ann Larson. She is survived by her brother, Bob Baur (Caroline), West Des Moines, Iowa; her children, Carole Tillotson (Robert Wadzinski), Windsor Heights, Iowa; Curt Tillotson (Kim), Maple Grove, Minnesota; Laura Tillotson (Alex Mamantov), Chicago, Illinois; and nine flawless grandchildren—each raising "just a teaspoon" of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. With one ice cube.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Des Moines Founders Garden Club, 2619 Crown Flair Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50265, or Lutheran Services in Iowa, P.O. Box 848, 106 16th Street SW, Waverly, IA 50677.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 5, from 3-5 p.m. at Iles Dunn's Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 6, at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church.