Dolores I. Colson, 91 of Oakland, NE

Dolores I. Colson, age 91, a long-time Oakland resident, passed away at the Oakland Heights Nursing Home on November 4, 2013. Memorial services will be held Thursday, November 7, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with Rev. Mark Eldal officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery. Memorial Gathering will be on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, with the family receiving friends from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. Memorials may be directed towards the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oakland Public Library and the Cardiac Department at the Oakland Mercy Hospital. Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland are in charge of arrangements.

Dolores was born at Bancroft, Nebraska, on March 4, 1922, the daughter of Gottlieb and Leona (Krueger) Buchholz. She was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Bancroft on April 9, 1922, and confirmed there on May 31, 1936. Dolores graduated from Bancroft High School in 1940. After graduation, Dolores lived in Omaha and worked as a private maid and a hospital kitchen supervisor. By 1944, she was working in Oakland at a grocery store.

On September 8, 1946, Dolores married Eugene E. Colson at First Lutheran Church in Oakland, Nebraska, and began married life on the Colson farm north of Oakland. During their 35 years on the farm Dolores and Gene raised three children. Dolores also worked for many years in Oakland at Al Backstrom’s grocery and at Al’s Super Saver. As a result, during those years she became well-known to many in the Oakland community. Dolores and Gene moved into Oakland in 1981.

Dolores was an active and faithful member of First Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday School and Bible School, participated in LCW and Dorcas, and volunteered for many other activities over the years and especially enjoyed helping assemble the monthly Spire newsletter. Dolores loved her church family, was a daily Bible reader, and lived out a Christian life.

Dolores was a member of the Oakland Hospital Auxiliary and served as the historian for several years. She was a long-time member of “The Busy Twelve” club and helped her children in 4-H Club activities. Dolores was an avid reader and loved to go to the Oakland Library where she participated in a book club.

Dolores was a loyal fan of Creighton Blue Jay basketball and at age 89 attended her first Blue Jay game at the Century Link Center in Omaha, an event that she described as “awesome”! She was a devoted fan of Nebraska women’s volleyball and enjoyed watching their games on TV. Dolores also attended sports activities of her son and grandchildren and attended many Oakland-Craig High School sports activities. She enjoyed fishing with her husband and upon her retirement learned to play golf.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years, Eugene, and a daughter, Cynthia.

She is survived by a brother, Gordon, of Columbus, NE; a daughter, Pam Kieckhafer and husband Marv of Council Bluffs, IA; son Tim Colson and wife Donna of West Point, NE; son-in-law Burdette Greeny II of Port Angeles, WA; four grandchildren: Chad Colson and wife Wendy of Palmyra, NE; James Colson of West Point NE; Burdette Greeny lll and wife Jennifer of Pullman, WA; Karena Owen and husband, Dustin, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; granddaughter-in-law, Erica Paus of West Point, NE.; seven great-grandchildren: Makena Colson, Kaiah Colson, Cooper Colson, Lauren Greeny.