Norma Christine (Dopp) Colligan

Norma Christine (Dopp) Colligan slipped away to her heavenly home on March 1, 2018, at the age of 92. She was a member of Grace Bible Church in Wild Rose, Wisconsin, and was affectionately known as “Bamma” to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many others.

Norma, the youngest of four children, was born on December 16, 1925, to Wilfred and Karen Emilie (Olson) Dopp in the Town of Belmont in Portage County. While growing up, her family experienced the complete loss of their home in fires on two separate occasions during the Depression years which made farm life even more difficult. She graduated from Wild Rose High School where she met and fell in love with Roger Colligan, a talented athlete who competed in the 1942 State Tournament in Track and Field where he won first place throwing discus and second place in the shotput.  They married in 1946 and moved into the home where she lived until her death. They began dairy farming, went on to raising cucumbers and operating a receiving station for Green Bay Foods, and eventually moved on to buying and selling farm equipment. They had many happy memories of the people who worked on the farm and had lifelong relationships with migrant families from Texas who returned each summer to pick pickles.

Norma was quick to welcome visitors, always made people feel at home, and especially enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren.  She was well-known for her delicious pies and she was an avid quilter, an artist in stained glass, and she loved watching the many birds at her feeders. For the past several years, she enjoyed hosting a weekly Bible study in her home and as her health declined, she found great comfort in God’s Word as she looked forward to her day to be “absent from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8) During the past year, wonderful people assisted her family in caregiving, and they became as family to her. She dearly loved and appreciated Kristi & Paul Scott, Diann Drmolka, Barb Castner, Johanna Shepard, Kaylee Rivers, Cassie Roemer, Lisa Fadrow, Michelle Boonstra, & Tammy Furnas. Another source of blessing were those from Hospice who gave loving care and her heart was full of thankfulness for Dr. Chad Caves, Allison Rose & Kim Kaping.  Other dearly loved ones brought in countless meals, kept in touch with cards, phone calls & gifts, took care of her flower garden, and even sang to her.

Norma is survived by her daughter Christine and son-in-law John Lauritzen. Other survivors include five grandchildren: Tracey Christine Lauritzen (Jon) Kolbrek, Tom (Tanya) Lauritzen, Michael Lauritzen, Craig (Michelle) Carpenter, and Melissa Carpenter Maas; twelve great-grandchildren: Elena Christine, Anders, Keely, & Brynn Kolbrek, David, Adelaide, Hayden, Ethan, & Charlie Lauritzen, Brandon, Anna, & Jack Maas; son-in-law Roger Carpenter; sisters-in-law Maretta Dopp and Natalie Dyrbey; nephews and nieces; and many friends. She was preceded in death by Roger Colligan, her husband of 60 years, and her daughter, Sally (Colligan) Carpenter.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be given to Christian Medical Mobile Services in the Philippines, a mission staffed by volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses and pastors who minister to physical needs of those in poverty as well as sharing the gospel of salvation in Jesus to needy souls. This medical mission established by Norma’s dear friends, the late Dr. & Mrs. Pepito Emlano, has ministered faithfully for over 30 years.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 18, 2018, from Noon until 3:00 pm at Grace Bible Church in Wild Rose at 610 Carey Avenue. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 pm. Interment at Caersalem Cemetery will take place at a future date.

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