Cynthia Sue Carlisle

Cynthia Sue Carlisle, 85, of Tipton, Iowa, and Greeley, Colorado died peacefully at her home in Greeley, Colorado on November 5, 2024.  She was born February 15, 1939, in Tipton, Iowa to Loren and Kathryn (Roberts) Carlisle.

Cynthia graduated from Tipton High School in 1957.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA, a Master of Education in Physical Education from Southwestern State University in Weatherford, OK, and was awarded a Doctorate in Secondary Education from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO.  She was a member of a competitive field hockey team starting in 1957, playing and competing throughout the Mid-West and East Coast for the next 12 years.

Cynthia was a physical education teacher and coach in West Liberty, IA, from 1961 to 1969, where she taught physical education, modern dance, synchronized swimming, and coached basketball.  She taught at the University of Wisconsin at Platteville from 1969-1970 before moving to Colorado. Cynthia taught Physical Education, English, started the girls’ athletic program, and coached gymnastics and track and field at Fort Morgan High School in Fort Morgan, CO from 1970-1972.  The final stop on her storied teaching career was at the University of Northern Colorado where she taught modern dance and coached swimming, choreographed synchronized swimming and modern dance programs, before moving on to teach methods to physical education majors, supervise student teachers, and became chair of the physical education department.  Cynthia developed an integrated elementary movement, music, and art program for graduate students who wanted to become certified elementary education teachers.  Additionally, she developed a daily elementary physical education curriculum which she implemented and taught for two years at Platte Valley Schools in Kersey, CO, stressing the importance and need for daily physical education in K-2 elementary schools. She was instrumental in creating an evaluation program for student teachers and classroom teachers that could be used by videoing and then watching themselves in order to improve their teaching and management skills enabling them to become better teachers.  Cynthia presented her findings at numerous state, national, and international conferences.  Cynthia did all of this while teaching full-time at the university.

Cynthia served the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) as a member of the faculty from 1972-2019 and a dedicated member of the faculty senate from 1980-2000.  She also served on the graduate academic policies and strategic planning committees and was a Colorado Department of Education task force member, assessment team member, and curriculum consultant advisor.

Cynthia was a lifelong learner and had an insatiable appetite for learning new and different aspects of education.  In 1982, she went to England for a semester as an exchange teacher at West Sussex Institute of Higher Education.  In 1986, Cynthia went to Germany as the supervisor of student teachers and served as an associate director of programming for the International Student Teacher Consortium in Munich, Germany.

Cynthia was an accomplished researcher and writer.  She authored and co-authored numerous textbooks, articles, and manuals on methods for teaching physical education and integration of movement in the elementary classroom.  She also delivered presentations and conducted workshops at state, national, and international conventions relating to her outstanding work and research of the benefits of daily physical education and how to integrate it into a regular classroom setting.

Cynthia’s teaching career started at the age of 16 at the Tipton Country Club where she taught swimming and was a lifeguard.  She completed her teaching career as a professor at the University of Northern Colorado in 2019 at the age of 80.  The impact that Cynthia had on her literally thousands of students during her 60-year teaching career is immeasurable.  Cynthia was as comfortable teaching preschoolers as she was her Doctoral students and every age in between.  If anyone was born to teach, it was Cynthia.  She truly was a force with which to be reckoned.  Her passion and enthusiasm for learning and teaching was passed on to each and every one of her students.  That, plus her support of women’s rights was a driving force in her life.

During her long and distinguished career, Cynthia received many awards and honors. In 1984 she was awarded UNC Professor of the Year; 1986 UNC College of Human Performance College Scholar; 1987 UNC Faculty of Excellence Award; 1989, 90, and 91 UNC Faculty Achievement Award; 1993 UNC Panhellenic Council Outstanding Faculty Member; 1993 Colorado Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Outstanding Higher Education Award; 1998 and 1999 Colorado Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance President’s Award, and in 2008 Cynthia received the University of Northern Iowa Hall of Excellence Award as outstanding alumnus for her lifelong contributions to education.

Cynthia was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tipton, IA and St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Greeley, CO.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Patricia Trump, Mary Jane Winekauf-Sesker, Sandra Masterson, and Karla Fowler. She is survived by sixteen nieces and nephews, as well as numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass for Cynthia will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tipton, IA, on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Visitation will take place prior to the Mass from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Following the Mass, a luncheon in Cynthia’s honor will be hosted at St. Mary’s Parish Hall. Burial will proceed at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Tipton, IA, where Cynthia will be laid to rest.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Cedar County Historical Society, the Tipton Public Library, or the Tipton Fire Department. Online condolences, cherished memories, and photos can be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.