(nee Hayes) Joined her parents and brother in Heaven on Saturday April 23, 2022 at age 91. Colleen is survived by Leonhard, her college sweetheart and loving husband of 66 years. Beloved mother of William (Anne) Rose, Barbara (Paul) Ahlf, Mary Rose Gerbig (William Houlihan), Maureen (Tedd) Griepentrog, John (Nancy) Rose, David (Susan) Rose, and Thomas (Jennifer) Rose. Cherished sister of the late John Hayes (Patricia Hayes). Dear cousin of Richard "Dick" and Thomas "Tom" Wight. She will be missed by many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Colleen was a graduate of the Milwaukee State Teachers College, now the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She was a musician, private piano teacher, public school music teacher, wife and mother of seven children. She was an active Bay View and Burdick Schools Band Parent Booster. She was on the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestras, a long time member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League and Docent for the Children's Concerts. Colleen was a Milwaukee Civic Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Colleen was an amazing woman who brought joy and comfort to an extraordinarily wide circle of family and friends throughout her life.
Memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at South Shore Pavilion, 2900 Shore Shore Drive, Milwaukee, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A Celebration of Colleen's Life service will begin at 1:00 PM.
If you are unable to attend the celebration and would like to watch a live stream of the concert, please click here
South Shore Pavilion is a covered area with ceiling fans that is handicap accessible. There is both street and lot parking.
If desired, Memorials on Colleen's behalf may be made to: Milwaukee Civic Music Association, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestras.
Prasser Kleczka Funeral Home
Bay View Chapel 3275 South Howell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207