Colleen (LaHue) Travis entered this world Dec. 7, 1927, the third child of Dewey and Edna (Clouse) LaHue in Yale, Iowa, and left this life March 17, 2017, in Garland, Texas, at the age of 89 years, 3 months and 10 days.
A celebration of life service was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 25 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Words of comfort were provided by Bob Tallman, and Alex Ehmke and Jennifer Ehmke eulogized Colleen’s life. Casket bearers were Terry Travis, Ben Ehmke, Chris Ehmke, Alex Ehmke, John Ehmke and Ashlee Travis.
Congregational hymns were “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” “It Is Well With My Soul” and “My Faith Looks Up to Thee,” payed on the piano by Elta Summerson. Her burial was at the Brethren Cemetery near Panora, Iowa.
Colleen was a graduate of Yale High School and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, where she became eligible to teach. At a later date, she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at William Penn College in Oskaloosa.
Colleen was united in marriage to Rev. William J. Travis Aug. 23, 1953. He preceded her in death April 22, 2003, after 49 years of marriage. To their union were born three children: Terry Travis of Cedar Rapids, Randy Travis of Kettering, Ohio, and Jennifer Ehmke of Garland, Texas.
Bill and Colleen made their homes in Mitchellville, Iowa, Jacksonville, Fla., Knoxville, Iowa, Indianola, Iowa, and Perry, Iowa, where they spent their retirement.
Colleen was employed as teacher for the Melcher-Dallas School District from 1965 until 1990, when she retired after dedicating 25 years to the community. Teaching was her passion, and she will be well remembered for her unwavering service and care for the children she taught.
While not recognized as an employed position, Colleen spent much of her life as an active, supportive and endearing wife of a minister, a position she held with determination her entire married life.
Colleen is preceded in death by her husband, William Travis; her parents, Dewey and Edna LaHue; her brother, Pierre LaHue; her sister, Norma McOmber; and her granddaughter, Tricia Alexander.
She is survived by her sister, Shirley Renfrow, of Clive; three children, Terry Travis, Randy Travis and Jennifer Ehmke; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been setup with the Alzheimer’s Cure Fund.
