Colleen M. Flaws Obituary (1961 - 2018)

Colleen Flaws, age 56, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 in Des Moines. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, February 19, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines. A memorial visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM with a vigil service at 8:00, Sunday, February 18, 2018 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlisle. Internment will take place at a later date in the Carlisle City Cemetery. Colleen was born on June 6, 1961 in Estherville, Iowa to Roy and Rita (Neppl) Fox. Colleen is survived by her mother, Rita Mae Fox of West Des Moines; husband, Jay Flaws of Carlisle; 3 sons, Justin(Kacey), Jordan(Britney), Joshua(Sashea), her granddaughter, Jovey; Siblings, Madeleine(Randy) Huegerich, Kevin(Patrice) Fox, Kathy(Mike) Ubben, Patrick(Stacey) Fox, and many nieces and nephews. Colleen was preceded in death by her father, Roy A. Fox and her mother-in-law, Virginia Flaws. Colleen grew up in Bancroft, Iowa, and worked at her father's cafe. She met her future husband, Jay, at Briar Cliff College in the Alverno Hall elevator. They were later married in 1981 and went on to raise three boys in Carlisle, Iowa. Colleen touched hundreds of lives by providing daycare to children in the community of Carlisle for the past 30 years. She spent her free time in the stands (and left field) cheering for Carlisle Wildcats sports teams, when her sons played, and now as her sons coach at Carlisle and Van Meter. Colleen's family and daycare children were everything to her, especially her granddaughter Jovey. Colleen bravely battled three rounds of cancer, but it couldn't take her caring spirit that will remain in all of the people that she touched throughout her life. She showed her family, friends, and community how strong of a person she was throughout this time and most of all in the final few weeks of her life. She was an inspiration to all those around her in her finals days. Online condolences may be made at www.petersonfuneralservice.com