Obituary for Johanna Eleonore Platts
“Hansi”, as she was known to friends and family since childhood, passed away on October 7th, 2022, two weeks after her 96th birthday.
Hansi was born in Bavaria and was the daughter of Hans and Walburga Estenfelder. She experienced the turbulent war and post-war years in Germany. Having been fortunate to attend excellent schools while growing up, she was fluent In English when her hometown was occupied by US forces in 1945. Her first job at age 19 was as a teacher of grade-school children of the American occupation forces. With these contacts, she was persuaded to move to the “land of opportunity” in 1951. She explored a few places in the Midwest, but ultimately decided the mountains and Boulder reminded her of her European roots.
In Boulder, Hansi met a handsome, cosmopolitan Boulder native, Harvey Platts. Hansi and Harvey married in 1955 and had two children, Bill and Debbie. They divorced in 1983, but maintained a friendly, supportive relationship. Harvey passed away in 1996.
Harvey and Hansi shared their love for the outdoors. Their first date was skiing at A-Basin. By the end of this first date, Harvey knew Hansi was the woman he wanted to marry. On their second date, Harvey shared his love of climbing with Hansi, taking her up the 3rd Flatiron and teaching her to rappel down the back of the Flatiron. During the early years of their marriage, their passion for hiking flourished, with the Flatirons and Gregory Canyon in their backyard. Many fond memories were made with family hikes on Flagstaff. For over 50 years the family enjoyed their second home in Aspen, one reason why Bill and Debbie became passionate skiers. Hansi’s children will always treasure the memories from these trips and the love of the outdoors that their parents shared with them.
Hansi was proud to be married to a successful businessman and one of the largest employers in Boulder County at the time. While Harvey worked hard as the President of Western Cutlery to provide for his family, Hansi got much pleasure from her role as homemaker for the family. Her dedication to her family was admirable. She was a devoted mother and loved her children above all else. She enjoyed many visits and extended stays from her mother, Walburga, especially while her children were young. Hansi’s mother especially enjoyed many visits to Aspen and was always amazed by the red mountains in Colorado, something very different from Germany. Hansi and Walburga shared rich stories with Bill and Debbie of people and places, and family connections from their hometown in Mindelheim, Germany. Included in Hansi’s legacy to her children are many old country recipes, handed down through many generations
Hansi was thrilled with the arrival of her only grandchild, Michael, in 2003. She even drove to Longmont in the middle of the night to be by Debbie’s side for Michael’s birth and be the first to welcome him into this world. Hansi loved and spoiled her grandson. She shared her love of the outdoors with him, and he now carries that passion now, as well. He recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment of which Hansi was very proud. Michael already misses his grandmother.
Hansi is survived by her son and daughter in-law, Bill and Beverly Platts of Boulder, her daughter and grandson, Debbie Platts and Michael Platts of Longmont, her sister Sigrid Mair of Mindelheim, Germany, and the Estenfelder family of Cherry Hills, including her brother Lothar Estenfelder, sister in-law Hannelore Estenfelder, niece Nicole Estenfelder, and grand-nephew, Nicholas Estenfelder.
Hansi was born in Bavaria and was the daughter of Hans and Walburga Estenfelder. She experienced the turbulent war and post-war years in Germany. Having been fortunate to attend excellent schools while growing up, she was fluent In English when her hometown was occupied by US forces in 1945. Her first job at age 19 was as a teacher of grade-school children of the American occupation forces. With these contacts, she was persuaded to move to the “land of opportunity” in 1951. She explored a few places in the Midwest, but ultimately decided the mountains and Boulder reminded her of her European roots.
In Boulder, Hansi met a handsome, cosmopolitan Boulder native, Harvey Platts. Hansi and Harvey married in 1955 and had two children, Bill and Debbie. They divorced in 1983, but maintained a friendly, supportive relationship. Harvey passed away in 1996.
Harvey and Hansi shared their love for the outdoors. Their first date was skiing at A-Basin. By the end of this first date, Harvey knew Hansi was the woman he wanted to marry. On their second date, Harvey shared his love of climbing with Hansi, taking her up the 3rd Flatiron and teaching her to rappel down the back of the Flatiron. During the early years of their marriage, their passion for hiking flourished, with the Flatirons and Gregory Canyon in their backyard. Many fond memories were made with family hikes on Flagstaff. For over 50 years the family enjoyed their second home in Aspen, one reason why Bill and Debbie became passionate skiers. Hansi’s children will always treasure the memories from these trips and the love of the outdoors that their parents shared with them.
Hansi was proud to be married to a successful businessman and one of the largest employers in Boulder County at the time. While Harvey worked hard as the President of Western Cutlery to provide for his family, Hansi got much pleasure from her role as homemaker for the family. Her dedication to her family was admirable. She was a devoted mother and loved her children above all else. She enjoyed many visits and extended stays from her mother, Walburga, especially while her children were young. Hansi’s mother especially enjoyed many visits to Aspen and was always amazed by the red mountains in Colorado, something very different from Germany. Hansi and Walburga shared rich stories with Bill and Debbie of people and places, and family connections from their hometown in Mindelheim, Germany. Included in Hansi’s legacy to her children are many old country recipes, handed down through many generations
Hansi was thrilled with the arrival of her only grandchild, Michael, in 2003. She even drove to Longmont in the middle of the night to be by Debbie’s side for Michael’s birth and be the first to welcome him into this world. Hansi loved and spoiled her grandson. She shared her love of the outdoors with him, and he now carries that passion now, as well. He recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment of which Hansi was very proud. Michael already misses his grandmother.
Hansi is survived by her son and daughter in-law, Bill and Beverly Platts of Boulder, her daughter and grandson, Debbie Platts and Michael Platts of Longmont, her sister Sigrid Mair of Mindelheim, Germany, and the Estenfelder family of Cherry Hills, including her brother Lothar Estenfelder, sister in-law Hannelore Estenfelder, niece Nicole Estenfelder, and grand-nephew, Nicholas Estenfelder.