Colleen Elnora Halsted Mehaffey, 72, Cedar Rapids

Colleen Elnora Halsted Mehaffey, 72, passed away in the comforts of her home Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in Cedar Rapids. Colleen was born January 1, 1952, in Marshalltown, Iowa to Harold and Fern (Havens) Halsted. Colleen was raised on a farm near Montour Iowa, and then on a farm by State Center, where she attended West Marshall Community Schools. While in school, Colleen embraced the stage, which culminated with singing on the Bill Riley show at the State Fair, and caused her to support the Arts in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Colleen married Mike Mehaffey and they raised two children together, a daughter Christina Colleen and a son Devin Patrick. As a Head Start teacher, Colleen mentored some twenty children and their families each year for 35 years. As a SEIU Union steward, she mentored hundreds of employees, and chaired contract committees that improved the living of all employees. Colleen was a lifelong Democrat, and engaged with many campaigns over the years, for which pictures of her with presidential, state and local candidates attest to her activism. She served as precinct chair at caucus time, and as precinct captain for several candidates.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Norman, whom she married May 25, 2002 in Christ Episcopal Church of Cedar Rapids, daughter Christy (Patrick) Maresh, Blairstown, and their son Samuel (Crystal) and Great Grandchildren Charlotte, and Rory, Vinton, son Devin, and his daughter Estelle, Cedar Rapids, step son Nathaniel, Iowa City. Her surviving siblings are Joanne Ward, Cedar Rapids, Barbara Adkins Tulsa OK, Everett Halsted (Mary Jane) State Center, Wesley Halsted (Sally) Marshalltown and Gwendolyn Horne (Richard) Tulsa, Ok. She is also survived by in- laws Clint Kalvig (Stephanie), Huxley, Karl Kalvig (Shirley) Mason City, Jeff Kalvig, (Marlene), Ft. Dodge, Pete Kalvig, and by former in-laws Robin Mehaffey and Patrick Mehaffey.

Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Fern, by her first husband Michael Mehaffey, and two sets of in-laws, Charles and Patricia Mehaffey, and Donald and Shirley Kalvig. She was preceded by a sister Loretta, and her husband Bob, by brothers in law Phil Ward, Ted Adkins, Gary Kalvig and Daniel Kalvig, and former in law Dan Mehaffey.

Colleen and Norman wish to thank the many Faculty and Staff at the University of Iowa Hospitals for her long care of her Melanoma, and to the Hospice of Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids for helping her comfort at her home this past week. May God bless them in their work. Visitation is on Friday December 20th, 4:00 to 7:00 Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home,4200 1st Ave NE. The service will be at Christ Episcopal Church of Cedar Rapids on Saturday, December 21st at 10:00. Inurnment will be at a later date at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marshalltown.

Online condolences are welcome at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries. Memorials may be given in Colleen’s name to the many local non-profits that serve Cedar Rapids.