After many years suffering from aggressively progressing dementia, Coleen Kay (Schwalenberg) Erdman passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in her room at Cedar Creek Manor at the age of 66. Now the Lord has mercifully ended her suffering. She died in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through her Lord Jesus Christ, a faith she shared with others at every opportunity.
Coleen was born on September 13, 1959 in West Bend. She was baptized into Christ on October 18, 1959 at Trinity Freistadt Lutheran Church. She graduated from Winona State University in 1981 with a BS in Therapeutic Recreation (working with special needs children and in nursing homes). She married John Erdman on June 9, 1984 at St John Lutheran Church, Wausau.
Over her life, she had a passion for many different church groups and activities, including: leading various women's and youth Bible Studies, numerous church choirs, homeschooling associations, scrapbooking, sewing, First Light Puppets (both puppeteer and puppet maker), and Bow the Knee. She loved nativity scenes, and at one time her collection had more than 100 unique sets. She was an extrovert who was always making new friends and wanted to greet everyone with a hug.
Coleen is survived by her husband of 41 years, John, her children Michael (Rachael) and Laura (Walter), and grandchildren Edmund, Paul, and Thomas. She is also survived by her siblings, Lee (Vicky) Schwalenberg, Larry (Linda) Schwalenberg, Maxine Schwalenberg, and Dean (Amy) Schwalenberg.
She was preceded in death in death by her father Elroy and mother Mabel.
