Colleen A. Welper

Colleen Ann Welper, 87, passed away peacefully on February 5th at Bay Harbor in La Crescent, MN. She was born on June 16th, 1938, to Jay and Bess Kane and grew up in Cascade IA. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Clarke College in Dubuque, IA. During her first teaching assignment in New Albin, she met Delbert Welper and they were married on December 28th, 1958.

They moved to La Crosse and Colleen earned her Master’s degree in history at the University of Wisconsin -La Crosse. She began her nearly 30 year career as a teacher of U.S. history, Civics and Social Studies at DeSoto High School. The family moved to La Crescent in 1974. Colleen had a keen interest in politics and current events. She worked on many political campaigns and was very active in Coulee Region United Educators. She enjoyed travelling, but almost as much, she enjoyed planning a good trip. On her travels and numerous trips “out west,” she collected rocks, minerals, gems and fossils. Colleen was a gentle, kind person who saw the good in everyone. She will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her children, Lee (Rebecca) Welper, Nancy (Jeff) Zadow and Joan Tharp, her grandchildren, Zachary and Benjamin Zadow, Madison, Connor and Liam Tharp, and Frieda Welper, and her siblings Pat Nehrbass, Michael (Kathleen) Kane and Mary Darnieder. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son, David, her son-in-law Michael Tharp, and her brother, John.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Crucifixion Catholic Church in La Crescent at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 14th with Father John Evans officiating. Family and friends may visit from 9:30 am until the beginning of the service. A luncheon will be served after the service in the Fellowship Hall at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent.

We wish to express our gratitude to the dedicated, compassionate staff in the Memory Care at Bay Harbor of La Crescent and St. Croix Hospice for the care they provided Colleen, and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for their gracious hospitality.