Hedwig 'Heidi' Colby, 87

Hedwig “Heidi” Antonia Colby, 87, of Coeur d’Alene, passed away Aug. 21, 2012, at Beehive Homes in Coeur d’Alene. Heidi was born Jan. 1, 1925, in Vienna, Austria, the daughter of Alfred and Anna Marko.

In 1947 Heidi completed the equivalent of high school, plus three years of Business College in Vienna. From 1940 to 1945 Heidi worked as a payroll clerk for a farm machinery business in Vienna. On May 19, 1948, Heidi married Max A. Colby in Vienna. On Oct. 15, 1950, they left Germany for the nine-day boat ride to New York City. From New York they traveled by train to Dayton, Wash., where they resided for several years before moving to Lewiston and then to Yakima, Wash. In 1959 they moved to Coeur d’Alene.

Heidi worked for State Farm Mutual Insurance in Coeur d’Alene for many years before realizing her dream of owning her own business. Heidi Vending operated from 1974 to 2008. Heidi covered many miles of her routes throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho. She especially liked meeting all the people she encountered on her travels. Heidi was a master seamstress, loved skiing and ran the Bloomsday race in 1996 when she was 71 years old. Heidi loved reading. Shakespeare and Hemingway were favorites, though she read everything.

Winter and big snow excited her like a kid. Gardening was her passion, from growing 150-pound pumpkins to the tastiest tomatoes, blueberries and raspberries. She even grew things she didn’t especially like, such as turnips. She managed to coax some of the sweetest, juiciest peaches out of the North Idaho growing season. One of Heidi’s proudest moments was when she received her United States Citizenship. She was so excited to become a U.S. Citizen, and truly loved her adopted country. Heidi was a member of the Catholic Daughters for many years. She participated in many fund drives for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and Easter Seals.

Heidi was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her sisters, Erna (Marko) Tanzer and Elfriede (Marko) Unger. She is survived by her son, Mark A. Colby of Paradise, Mont. Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Ave., Coeur d’Alene, with a viewing at 10 a.m. at the church. A graveside service will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.

Please visit Heidi’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.