Colleen Marie (Hengel) Berkner was born on January 17, 1941, in Brooks, MN, the daughter of Leo and Bernice (Fletcher) Hengel. She grew up in Sleepy Eye and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1959. On February 27, 1960, Colleen was united in marriage to Edward Berkner. Together they lived on the family farm where they raised their five children.
During her high school years, Colleen worked as a carhop for Mabel’s Drive-Inn in Sleepy Eye. Over the years, in addition to raising her family and helping on the farm, Colleen was employed by Sleepy Eye Bus Lines driving school bus and later was employed by Interior Motives in New Ulm. Recognizing that she was gifted with an eye for interior decorating, Colleen freely shared her talents to help create beautiful homes. She was also involved with various direct selling companies and what she loved most about her involvement was meeting other women, many of whom became friends.
Colleen’s faith was important to her, and she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Council of Catholic Women and Christian Mothers. Understanding, accepting, loving, and forgiving are just a few of the many attributes that came naturally to Colleen. Her heart was big and grateful. She never asked for anything and was beyond generous. Her hugs were strong while her patience and advice were limitless. She was a fantastic cook and baker. While helping others and being able to share her talents brought her joy, what she loved most of all was spending time with her beloved family and friends. Colleen will be forever loved and incredibly missed as the wonderful wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt and friend.
olleen is survived by her husband of 62 years, Edward Berkner and their five children, Glenn (friend Mary Jo) Berkner, Christine (LaMonte) Heiderscheidt, DeLoy (Annette) Berkner, Maureen (Todd) Heiderscheidt, and Lynne “Tork” (Logan) Schweiss, all of Sleepy Eye, MN; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; siblings, Marlyn Hengel of Wichita, KS, Joyce Rothmeier of Northfield, MN, Phyllis Freeman of Faribault, MN, and Cindy (Nelson) Ladd of Belle Plaine, MN; sister-in-law, Carol Hengel of Sleepy Eye, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Roger Hengel; and in-laws, Joan Hengel, Barb Hengel, Donald Rothmeier, Jon Freeman, Donna Deane, and Edgar Hoffmann.