Obituary of Colleen Cole

Colleen Rose Kohler Cole passed away on Thursday morning, April 16, 2015 at the Partners for Care Hospice Care Center in Bend, Oregon, after a long battle with respiratory and heart complications.Colleen was born on November 4, 1927, in Columbus, Nebraska, and lived with her parents, Gordon and Lucille Kohler and brothers, Donald and Dale in Columbus and Uehling, Nebraska, and Hill City, South Dakota, for several years.In 1943 she moved with her family to Swisshome, Oregon, and entered Mapleton High School. Colleen graduated from high school in 1945 and entered the Cadet Nurse Program at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon, where she became a Registered Nurse and graduated in 1949. Colleen met Charlie Cole in high school and they were married in 1949.Colleen and Charlie together raised three children, Gregory, Sara Lu, and Donna. The family lived in San Diego, Monterey and Chula Vista, California; Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Alexandria, Virginia; Bremerton, Washington; Hawaii; Guam; and Japan. They moved to Eugene in 1979 at the end of their Naval Service.Colleen continued her nursing work in Corvallis, Eugene, Salinas, California, and Yokosuka, Japan, as the family moved in connection with Charlie’s Naval assignments.Colleen and Charlie traveled on recreation trips throughout South East Asia; Western, Central and Eastern USA; and Canada. In the Eugene/Springfield area she became involved in volunteer service with Emmaus Lutheran Church, the Eugene Symphony, the ladies group of MOAA, and the Club and District Rotary organizations. In her spare time she enjoyed playing bridge on a regular basis. Charlie and Colleen moved to a retirement home in Eugene in 2005 and in 2013 continued medical issues required a move to a retirement home in Bend to be closer to family.Colleen is survived by husband Charlie after 66 years of loving marriage and two children and five grandchildren, including spouses: son Gregory Cole(Pamela), daughter Sara Lu Moore(Ian), grandsons Brandon Cole(Virginia), Jason Moore(Nikki), and Gordon Moore(Tara); granddaughters Molly Small(Jon), and Wren Gamiao(Teddy); and ten great grandchildren. Brother Dale Kohler(Janet) and several nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Donna and brother, Donald Kohler are previously deceased.Funeral services will be held on May 2, 2015 at Emmaus Lutheran Church at 10:30, reception following. Graveside will be at Lane Memorial Gardens.If desired, donations in Colleen’s memory may be made to the Emmaus Foundation at Emmaus Lutheran Church which provides scholarships to Lutheran youth