Colleen P. Sowa

On Wednesday, January 31, 2024 my sweet Mom passed away suddenly at home. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 7, 1952. She was the first born daughter of Charles W. and Patricia E. Salzer) Sullivan, and the second to youngest of ten children.  Colleen will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the countless hearts that she had touched through her volunteering and community involvement.  She loved volunteering at the Kane Street Community Garden and working with all of the people there. She loved being part of the La Crosse Community and volunteered at The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, and was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for a few years. She was unbelievably proud to have been a recipient of The Jefferson Award In April of 2012. She loved people, and her community, but most of all she loved being a Mother and Grandmother. Her grandchildren brought her so much life and joy. She always wanted grandchildren and helped her daughter raise them. They regard her as a second mother figure. She touched so many lives and hearts, and left so many wonderful memories for us to cherish.

She was preceded in death by her Husband Ronald Neinast (of Hillsboro), her parents; Charles and Patricia, her brothers: James, Thomas, Timothy, John, Charles II, William, Robert, and infant Francis Daniel, her Aunt and Uncle: Rosemarie and Kenneth Hanley, and Aunt Letitia Stahnke.

She leaves behind: her daughter Noel M Sullivan (Sowa) of La Crosse; her beloved grandchildren: Gavin Sowa, Genevieve(Evie) Van Blaricome, Ashton Van Blaricome, and Paxton Van Blaricome; her many nieces and nephews whom she loved as if they were her own, and in some cases they even lived with her from time to time, her close friends Carol and Bob Loney, her other “daughters” Andrea Smith (Gruntzel), and Emily Whitney. There are way too many people that she loved to mention here. So many people called her: “Mom”, “Ma”, “Grandma Colleen” or her absolute favorite, “Auntie Queen” and she loved every last one of them.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday February the 10^th with a light luncheon to follow, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 701 Well Street, Onalaska, WI 54650.

She always said that when she died, she wanted everyone that ever loved her to bring a Yellow Rose to the service.