Colleen Engman

Engman (nee Murphy)
Colleen Rose
Dec. 4, 1925-Nov. 14, 2012
Of Afton, formerly of Maplewood. Preceded in death by sisters, Patricia Murphy and Eileen Rivard. Survived by husband of 67 years, Herbert "Bill"; children, James W. (Carol), Margaret (Jim) Ricci and Michele Engman; 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandson; sister, Therese Meyer of Jacksonville, AR. Memorials preferred to St. Jerome Church Choir or St. Jerome School.
Colleen was born in St. Paul, MN on December 4, 1925 to Daniel and Gertrude Murphy as the third of four daughters. She graduated from St. Paul Central High School in 1943. In high school, her flaming red hair attracted a young man, Herbert Engman "Bill". They dated in high school and married on September 15, 1945, just shy of her 20th birthday. They adopted three children through their years of marriage, Jim, Margaret and Michele. She spent a great deal of time being involved in Cub and Boy Scouts as a Den Mother, and an assistant Girl Scout Leader. She regularly volunteered to be the "Cookie Mother" where the family routinely took in thousands of boxes of Girl Scout cookies prior to district scout troops picking them up. She was a regular volunteer at St. Jerome's Church as a Librarian and teaching assistant, where she was loved by all the little children she interacted with. She was active in the church and a 20 year member of the church choir.

Colleen was very involved in neighborhood Bible Study and loved traveling and visiting with her friends and relatives. She loved hosting holiday parties and creating parties for others. She was the best nurse - she took care of everyone - her mother, sisters, her kids, her husband, friends -treating all her patients like royalty. A staunch proponent of the family meal, she always created great meals from seemingly nothing. Having a love affair with the written word, she loved devouring books voraciously, writing thousands of letters, and reading stories to many children. The love of her life remained her true friend for life. She will be very well missed.