Colleen Faith (Shows) Waltner

Colleen Faith (Shows) Waltner of Iowa City, IA passed away peacefully in her home on November 7, 2022, ending a well-fought battle with cancer at the age of 63. 

Colleen was born September 3, 1959 to James Shows and Loretta (Swan) Shows in Coronado, CA. She graduated from Worthington (MN) High School in 1977 and attended St. Paul Bible College and Lowthian College, both in Minnesota. She was married to Brian Baumgarn from 1982 to 1997 and their places of residence included Yankton SD, Huron SD, Worthington MN, and Sioux Falls, SD. On July 3, 1999, Colleen married Jay Waltner in Sioux Falls, where they lived until moving to Iowa City in 2014.

Colleen’s interests were many and her circle of friends was large. There was always room for one more in her home or at her table. She loved learning and took every opportunity to pass her knowledge on to others. Her affection for animals – especially dogs and specifically “Westies” – saw many four-legged family members pass through her homes and she was active in Westie rescue while living in Sioux Falls. In her later years she indulged her passion for the fiber arts with fleeces, skeins of yarn, quilting blocks, spinning wheels and looms becoming fixtures in her household. Knitting groups in Sioux Falls, the Craft Guild of Iowa City, and fiber festivals provided treasured opportunities for her to practice her crafts, learn new things, and socialize. She also loved music, enjoying many hours at concerts and with her record collection and supporting Jay in his musical pursuits. Together, she and Jay enjoyed exploring new restaurants, watching University of Alabama football games, and traveling, including trips to Alabama, Arkansas, the Black Hills, Colorado, New York/New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Colonial Williamsburg. 

True to her name, faith was at the core of Colleen’s life. She was baptized on confession of faith and lived out her commitment to Christ in words, attitudes, and actions. Throughout her adult life she practiced and grew her faith through involvement in Bible Study Fellowship, membership in Central Church of Sioux Falls, and volunteer service in children’s and worship ministries in Sioux Falls and Iowa City. Whether at home, with friends, or in random encounters, she was never hesitant to bring her testimony into the conversation. 

Surviving Colleen are her husband Jay (Iowa City); parents James and Loretta Shows (Sioux Falls); daughters Katerina Baumgarn (Lennox, SD), Gretchen (Baumgarn) Simon (Sioux Falls), and Emily Baumgarn (Sioux Falls); grandchildren Naomi, JuliEtta, Remington, and Jayden; sisters Karen Shows Blegen (Sioux Falls) and Laura Shows-McKenna (Edison, NJ) and their children Andrea and Eric Blegen and Parker and Aiden McKenna; and Brian Baumgarn (Sioux Falls).

Having donated her body to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, there will be no funeral services. The family will host a remembrance reception at Central Church in Sioux Falls on a date to be announced. They request no flowers.