Colleen Dittrich

It is with heavy hearts the siblings of Colleen Marie Dittrich announce the passing of their beloved sister. Colleen, 67, passed away Monday, April 28th at Lake Winona manor after a brave fight with a brief illness,.

Colleen was born January 1, 1958 at Winona Community Memorial Hospital where she was celebrated as the New Year’s baby as she was the first baby born at the hospital that year. Colleen was the 9th child of eleven born to Willard and Arlyn Haigh Dittrich of Waumandee, Wisconsin. Colleen attended Cochrane-Fountain City Schools. While living on the family farm, Colleen refined several lifelong hobbies including making jewelry, latch hooking, completing jigsaw puzzles, some as many as 1000 pieces, coloring adult color pages, taking care of her pet cats and dogs, and listening to country music. Colleen loved all holidays, especially Christmas. She loved decorating her tree and had a new ornament theme every year. Colleen had a green thumb so good she could get Christmas cactus to bloom all year long. Colleen loved to go for rides to look for spring wild flowers and evening rides to spot deer grazing in the fields. Colleen was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan which caused her to love all things purple. In 2009, Colleen moved into Speltz Estates Assisted Living in Lewiston, Mn. She began her career at the Winona county Developmental Achievement Center where she made many friends. She retired in 2021. Colleen enjoyed living at Speltz Estates with the kind loving care of Shelly Speltz and staff. Colleen had formed many bonds with residence and staff frequently joking and teasing with them. Colleen made a special friendship with fellow resident Tim, as they shared many interests together. Colleen had a special interest in watching for cardinals. Colleen loved Gunsmoke and watched it her entire life including while in hospice.

Colleen is survived by siblings: Kathy Reuter; Mary Weaver; Dan Dittrich (Diane); Susan Schaffner (David); Faye Piel; Jane Bollinger (Roger); Michelle Ryan (Jim); Jackie Blahnik (Tom); and sister-in-law Cindy Dobmeyer-Dittrich. Colleen is also survived by many nieces and nephews including; Sherry Reuter (Brandi), Connie Fort (Tim), Paula Timm (Bob); Chad Weaver (Lisa), Cara Weaver; Steven Dittrich (Andrea), Allan Dittrich; Lisa Bremer (Jim), Jeff Schaffner (Holly), Matt Schaffner (Beth Ann); Danny Piel; Luke Dittrich (Logan), Erin Berham (Chase); Mike Dittrich (Nikki); McKenna McBane (Rob), Zach Ryan; and Billy Blahnik. Colleen is also survived by many great nieces and nephews.

Colleen is preceeded in death by her parents, Willard and Arlyn; brothers David and Jim, paternal grandparents Albert and Elfa Dittrich and maternal grandparents Arthur and Lorraine Haigh, brothers-in- law Tom Reuter and Roger Weaver and several aunts and uncles.

A celebration of Colleen’s life will be held Saturday, May 10th beginning at 11:00am at Talbot Family Funeral Home, Alma chapel, with visitation beginning at 10:00am. Burial will follow at the St. Boniface Waumandee Cemetery. A reception of fellowship and luncheon will follow at Rippley Hall in Waumandee. Pallbearers will be Tim Fort, Chad Weaver, Steven Dittrich, Jeff Schaffner, Danny Piel, Luke Dittrich, Mike Dittrich, Zach Ryan, and Billy Blahnik.

The loss of our sister is incomprehensible but we rejoice that colleen has earned her angel wings to soar to the heavens above and reunite with Mom and Dad. Her struggles here on earth with her earthly body have concluded and she is soaring like an eagle watching over us all. Go in peace our special sister, go in peace. We love you.