Colleen R. Altstadt, 67, passed from this life on Thursday July 28, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Services will be on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein with visitation from 11:00 am to 1:00pm the same day.  Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Colleen was born to Harold and Fae (Robertson) Belschner on June 9, 1949 in Oelwein, Iowa. She attended Oelwein Community Schools where she was a Majorette in the marching band and graduated in 1967. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. She often spoke of growing up close to her cousins and spending time with family was her greatest joy. Colleen was united in marriage to Timothy Freeman; this union was blessed with two sons, Frank “Jud” and Nathaniel. In 1972 Colleen received her diploma in Practical Nursing from Gateway Technical Institute which allowed her to fulfill her dream of helping others.

Colleen was later united in marriage to Rick Altstadt and spent many years working at Woolworth’s in Milwaukee, WI before returning to Iowa to be closer to family. After coming back to Iowa, Colleen resumed her nursing career, working in the nursing homes in the Cedar Rapids area. She became close to many of the people she cared for, treating each as if they were members of her family.

Colleen is survived by her two sons, Frank (Brenda) Freeman of Ames, Iowa and Nathaniel (Melissa) Freeman of Lock Haven, PA, five grandchildren, Gabrielle and Teagan of Lock Haven, Sharon and Harold of Ames and Jacob Baker currently stationed in Naples, Italy, her mother, Fae Belschner of Oelwein, a brother Steve Belschner (Karen King) of Cedar Rapids and many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.  She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, Craig Belschner.