On April 5, 2026, Lian Coman Emmerling was playing the last movement of the “Happy Trails to You” Symphony. When the conductor put the baton down, Lian took a bow, cased her violin, and went home.  Lian was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1960 and passed away on Easter, April 5, 2026.  She spent early years in Park Forest and Crete, Illinois and graduated from Crete-Monee High School in 1978. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Illinois in 1982.  Lian moved to Colorado and earned a Masters of Music in Performance from the University of Denver in 1984.  She performed in a string quartet in Great Falls, Montana and traveled around the state giving concerts.

She played with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Denver Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, visiting tours of shows at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, church performances around Denver, and in a number of recording sessions.  Lian toured around the U.S. and Canada with a Gilbert & Sullivan troupe and played the Britt Festival in Oregon and the Oregon Coast Festival for several years.  In 1995, Lian moved to Hugo and found her people. She loved small town living and liked finding her many friends and grandmas in Hugo.

She married James Emmerling on Feb 14, 2008, making James the luckiest man in 27 counties.

Lian fought Ovarian Cancer for 6 ½ years. She was tough and strong throughout.

She is survived by her husband, James Emmerling, sister Julie (Bob) Wettermann, sister Gwen Lombard, and her loved “kids”, Renata Wettermann (Christian) Capo, Gregor Wettermann, Natalie Lombard, and Carly Lombard.  At death, she was surrounded by the love of her friends and family and covered up by her cats, Calvin and Hobbs.

Celebration of Life will be held August 15, 2026 in Hugo, CO.