Shirley “Ann” Kollowa

On December 28^th, 2018, surrounded by loved ones and her “Hubby” Willard Kollowa, our Shirley Ann Kollowa went to be with the Lord.

Shirley is survived by her beloved husband, Willard Kollowa, her children, Kathryn and Scott Kollowa, five grandchildren, Neelia Miller, Joshua Miller, Krista Wetmore, Kaitlyn Anderson, and Matthew Kollowa; her siblings, Jim (Giesla) Holzmann, Roger (Rose Marie) Holzman, Rosie (Bill) Baus, and Mary (Jim) Mand; and many nieces and nephews.

Even though she could not walk or stand, her husband Willard used lifts and slings to transfer her to a wheelchair and to go to dialysis treatment three times a week – a treatment she had been going to for the past seven years. Willard had a wheelchair lift built into their van and created a wheelchair accessible home so that she could spend the last eleven months of her life comfortable at home.

Shirley Ann Kollowa was born April 9^th, 1935 to Elmer and Helen (Steffen) Holzmann in Mount Calvary, WI. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mount Calvary. Her formal years of education were in Mount Calvary and then, at sixteen years of age, she went to Sinsinawa Mother House to finish high school. She worked at the Sinsinawa Mother House where she professed her vows and made a commitment to God to be a Sinsinawa Dominican Sister.

She spent seven years in Fribourg, Switzerland at the house of Fribourg International Girls Boarding School where she was a chaperone and cook for the house. She also studied at the Catholic Dominican school to learn French. She traveled to many countries chaperoning groups of girls for the school. Shirley served seventeen years in the order and left due to health issues.

She studied at the University of Wisconsin to become a secretary and then worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. She met Willard and they were married December 30^th, 1975, at Hope Lutheran Church in St. Ann, Missouri.

Ann refinished Hammond church organs that were bought from a dealer every season in Edgerton, Minnesota. Every summer, Ann and Willard took their camper to Osh Kosh, Wisconsin to the EAA Convention for Aircraft. They camped for several weeks every year in July.

They bought and sold 35mm cameras and went to camera shows where Ann would display and sell cameras. Ann refinished many items in their home including kitchen cabinets and furniture pieces that were family antiques.

Ann lived a long and fulfilled life. She was known for bringing much joy to her friends and family. She never complained throughout the many years of her struggle with dialysis and she still had a smile on her face. She brought peace, joy, and hope to all those who knew her.

In Ann’s memory, memorials to be made to Hope Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Slayton City Cemetery, Slayton, MN, at a future date.