Colleen F. Smith

It is with a very, very heavy heart that I announce the passing of the toughest, strongest lady I have ever known, my mom, Colleen F. Smith. She died peacefully at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

Colleen overcame many heath issues over the years like a trooper, but in the last four years, dementia took a toll on her.

She was born in La Crosse on September 8, 1928, to Lloyd and Florence (Sagen) Caspersen. She married Donald J. Smith in St. James Rectory on November 8, 1947.

Mom and dad owned and operated Smith’s Plumbing and Heating in La Crosse from 1960 to 1990, in which mom was Don’s right hand lady and bookkeeper.

She loved spending many years at her cottage on Nelson Lake in Hayward, WI., and enjoyed spending winters in the Florida Keys, because she didn’t like the snow. She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and listening to music.

Colleen is survived by her daughter, Linda Heilman and son-in-law Jeffrey Heilman; granddaughters Dani Heilman (Joseph Erickson) and Katie (Chase) Schwersenska, and her great-granddaughter Nova Colleen Heilman. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law Ralph Jonas of Onalaska, and Eugene Preidel of Mesa, AZ., and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Donald Smith, on December 25, 2001; sisters Dawn (Art) Fregin, Lois (Rich) Molzahn, Sandra Jonas, Sharon Preidel; brother Lloyd (Beverly) Caspersen Jr.

There will be a private inurnment in St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum.

A Celebration of Colleen’s Life will be held on January 11, 2025, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm, at the Black River Beach House, 1433 Rose St., La Crosse. 

Memorials are requested for the Coulee Region Humane Society or Bethany St. Joseph Care Center.