Obituary of Colleen Travis

Betty Colleen Zogg was born January 6, 1929 to George and Gretchen Zogg. She never cared for Betty and insisted on being referred to as Colleen. One may have been glared at, hit, bitten or scratched should they have referred to her as anything else! Colleen and her younger siblings, Norman and Peggy, grew up on the family farm outside of Stratton. Colleen graduated Valedictorian from Stratton High School in 1947. Due to the war in our world, Colleen was granted an emergency certificate to teach school; she did this for a year. She also worked at the Stratton Café. Colleen loved to dance and this is where she met her lifetime love, Norman Dean. Although Colleen had never been considered a sports fan, her perceptions changed and the entire Zogg family began following Norm in basketball and baseball games. The two dated and danced every weekend and after juggling baseball games to make it happen, they were married June 11, 1950. The couple even spent their honeymoon watching baseball in Denver! Colleen enjoyed children, and spent her life caring for them; first her own, and the ones that she took in for childcare, and later her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mary Lou was born March 1951, followed by Cindy Lee June 1953, Gary Dean March 1955, and Larry Gene February 1957. Colleen was wise with her money and taught her children the value of hard work, responsibility and being wise with their money. Baseball became a family tradition. Just when Norm stopped playing, the boys were ready to start! She and Norm became Babe Ruth supporters, Norm as a commissioner and she as the great cheerleader. Rain, wind, sun, she was there to support the great sport. After her own boys moved into other interests, the grandkids began sports. There was not an event that she wasn’t present cheering for her kids! In Honor of Colleens years of support, teaching and sportsmanship the Babe Ruth League has created a sportsmanship award to be given at every Regional tournament (baseball and softball) in the couples name; the Norm and Colleen Travis sportsmanship award. Horse racing was something that Norm and Colleen enjoyed together, and with family. The couple raised numerous race horses. Colleen enjoyed watching them run, and even though she never laid her money down, she always picked the winner! Colleen was a woman strong in her faith. She and Norm made a compromise early on, she would attend baseball functions and he would go to church with her! Colleen taught Sunday schooland supported other activities at the United Methodist Church in Burlington. Forever the teacher, Colleen instilled values, morals and the strength of family in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The lessons were not always easy, but they have become engrained in every generation. Don’t let her small stature fool you. For 50+ years she walked 2 miles a day, and did it in fifteen minutes or less. She was a very quiet, yet mighty woman. Colleen and Norm celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year, surrounded by their family and friends; a legacy of love for all to celebrate. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents George and Gretchen, brother Norman, daughter Cindy and son Larry. She is at peace and walking with Jesus while we celebrate her life and mourn our loss. She is survived by husband Norm, daughter Mary, son Gary, and son- in- law Jim. Grandchildren; Holly and Tony, Heidi, Shasta and Mark, Chancy, Rachael, Tayler, and Jayden; great grandchildren: Logan, Dru, Alexi, Britt and Max. Sister Peggy and husband Ken, sister in law Shirley, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.