Obit: Herman, Colleen Marie (1926 - 2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Herman, Flora, Biddle, Lato, Virgin, Szemraj, Erickson, Hollister, Shikenjanski, Rusch, Matthews, Dongarra, Hendrickson, Petranovich

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 1/07/2015

Herman, Colleen Marie (16 November 1926 - 2 January 2015)

Colleen Marie Herman, 88, died at home on Friday, January 2, 2015, surrounded by her beloved family. She was born November 16, 1926, in Eidsvold, WI, to Melvin David Biddle and Mabel Mae Flora. She was a 1944 graduate of Thorp High School. Colleen moved to Milwaukee after high school, where she worked as a secretary. She was later employed as a secretary at the Blue Moon Cheese Factory. On February 7, 1848, she married Robert (Bob) Charles Herman at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thorp. Colleen and Rob owned and operated Herman’s Bar for over thirty years.

She was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church and its Parish Council of Catholic Women, the Busy Dozen Homemaker’s club, and the American Legion Auxiliary Post #118. In addition to once being a member of the church choir, she also used her vocal talents to sing at many weddings and funerals through the years, including four of her daughters’ weddings. She loved all creatures great and small, particularly her dog Lily. She was an avid reader who always had a good book on her nightstand. Colleen’s kind and quiet nature were a gift to all who were privileged enough to know here. Her family never questioned her love and devotion to them, and she always looked forward to any time she could be with her family.

Colleen will be dearly missed by her five daughters: Twyla (George) Lato of Muskego, WI, Lynn (Bruce Virgin) of Cambridge, WI, Sherrie Szemraj of Janesville, WI, Robin (Jim) Erickson of Eau Claire, WI, and Jane (Cliff) Hollister of Thorp, WI; nine grandchildren: Chris (Kari) Lato, Rebecca (Jim) Shikenjanski, Anissa Rusch, Scott (Maryam) Rusch, Paul (Suzie Matthews) Szemraj, Sara (Nick) Dongarra, Mark (Jessica) Erickson, Nick Erickson (special friend, Kelsey Hendrickson), and Danielle (Tony) Petranovich. She was lovingly called ‘Grandma Great’ by fourteen great-grandchildren. Colleen is also survived by one brother, Galen (Betty) Biddle of Safety Harbor, FL.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; son-in-law Roger Szemraj; and grand daughter-in-law, Susan Szemraj.

A gathering of family and friends will take place at the Thorp Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass and celebration of Colleen’s life will take place at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, Colleen’s family suggests that memorials be made in her name to the Clark County Humane Society, or the Thorp Public Library.

The little girl from Eidsvold with the beautiful voice was the best mother in the world.