Mary "Colleen" Carlson

If you knew Colleen, you knew that everything was a song, every stranger was a friend and every day was worth celebrating. Surrounded by her three children and husband of 47 years, Colleen Carlson, 71, of Winfield, passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025, at her home. Private family funeral mass will be held at a later date at the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant. Friends and family are invited to celebrate the ‘life of the party' on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club in Winfield. A memorial fund has been established in Colleen’s name.

Mary Colleen Bush was born on April 12, 1954, in Fairfield, Iowa the daughter of Lane Douglas and Mary Jane (Benda) Bush. She was the homecoming queen and a 1972 graduate of Fairfield High School. On January 21, 1978, Colleen married James Douglas Carlson at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Wherever she worked, Colleen made a lasting impression. She loved taking care of students that she treated like family and talking with customers that quickly became friends. She was a member of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mount Pleasant, serving on the Parish Council and T.T.T. In recent years, Colleen could be found at Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club. She devoted countless hours volunteering her time, sharing laughs with friends, and enjoying a round of golf with Jim and their friends. It was more than just a course—it was her community, and she poured her heart into it. Of all the titles she carried in life, ‘Mom’ ‘Grandma’ and ‘Gaga’ were the ones she wore most proudly. Colleen was a giver and left a little sparkle wherever she went. She gave love, she gave without thinking. Waffles, smoothies, and skinny noodles won't ever be the same. If only we could give her one more hug. She enjoyed singing with the ‘Bush Sisters’, dancing, golfing and spending time with her family, especially the grandchildren.  

Colleen will be deeply missed by her husband, Jim of Winfield; her children, Nathan (Deb) Carlson of North Liberty, Allyson (Scott) McCarty of Winfield and Melanie (Andrew) Hart of Indianola; six grandchildren, Dempsey Carlson, Harlynn Carlson, Emersyn McCarty, Jude Hart, Jonah Hart and Ezra Hart; mother, Jane Bush of Fairfield, sisters, Jolaine (Steve) Coop of rural Brighton, Chris (Paul) Bright of Norwalk, Karla (Russell) Rebling of rural Brighton and Terri (Randy) Smith of Davenport, brother-in-law Jeff Carlson of Mt. Vernon and many nieces and nephews.

Colleen was preceded in death by her father Lane Bush, in-laws Mike and Martha Carlson, brother-in-law John Carlson and sister-in-law Renate Carlson.

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