Memorial

Colleen Elnora Halsted Mehaffey (Kalvig), 72, passed away in the comforts of the home she built with her husband Norman Kalvig on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in Cedar Rapids.

Colleen was born January 1,1952 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Harold and Fern (Havens) Halsted.

Colleen was raised on a farm near State Center Ia, where she attended West Marshall Community Schools. While in school, Colleen embraced the stage, which culminated with singing on the Bill Riley show at the State Fair and caused her to support the Arts in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Colleen married Mike Mehaffey and they raised two children together, daughter Christina Colleen and a son Devin Patrick. She was a lifelong committed, loving, and supportive mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Before Michael died in 1999, Colleen, with Michael’s guidance and a group of 10 courageous Head Start Teachers, organized the Head Start Program associated with HACAP, an NGO in Hiawatha. Colleen served as the first chairperson of the Head Start chapter, and served on the newly formed local’s steering committee, developing a Constitution and Bylaws, and hiring the first Executive Director, then served on the newly formed local’s executive board, rising to serve as vice president of SEIU Local 199. As a teacher of the Family inspired Head Start, Colleen mentored some twenty children and their families each year for 35 years. As a Union steward, she mentored hundreds of employees, and chaired contract committees that restored holidays, introduced novel pay and transfer language that enriched their lives. She belonged to many groups and organizations that bent the arc of social justice. She believed in getting into ”good trouble”. Colleen was a life long Democrat, and engaged in many campaigns throughout her career. The pictures of her with presidential, state, and local candidates attest to her activism. She served as precinct chair at caucus time, and as precinct captain for several candidates. She mentored Senator Chris Dodd thru a Walk a Day Program sponsored by SEIU. Colleen was a devoted member of her church community, Christ Episcopal Church, where she served on the Outreach Commission, hosted events and raised money for UTO and ERD. She was so thankful for the many loving friendships made there.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Norman Kalvig of 22 years, whom she met in her union life and married May 25, 2002. Her daughter Christy (Patrick) Maresh, Blairstown, grandson Samuel Maresh (Crystal) and Great Grandchildren Charlotte, and Rory, Vinton. Her son Devin Mehaffey, and granddaughter Estelle Erin, Cedar Rapids. By her step son Nathaniel Kalvig, Iowa City; her siblings Joanne Ward, Cedar Rapids, Barbara Adkins Tulsa OK, Everett Halsted (Mary Jane) State Center, Wesley Halsted (Sally) Marshalltown, and Gwen Horne (Richard) Tulsa OK, by in laws Clint Kalvig (Stephanie) Huxley, Karl Kalvig (Shirley) Mason City, Jeff Kalvig (Marlene) Ft. Dodge, Pete Kalvig Virginia Beach; by many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins, Aunts and Uncles. She is survived by former in-laws Robin Mehaffey and Patrick Mehaffey.

Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Fern, by her first husband Michael Mehaffey, and two sets of in-laws, Charles and Patricia Mehaffey, and Donald and Shirley Kalvig. She was preceded by a sister Loretta, and her husband Bob Zimbelman, by brothers in law Phil Ward, Ted Adkins, Gary Kalvig, and Daniel Kalvig, former in law Dana Mehaffey, nephew Robbie Zimbelman.

Colleen and Norman wish to thank the many Faculty and Staff at the University of Iowa Hospitals for her long care of her Melanoma, and to the Hospice of Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids for helping her comfort at her home this past week. May God bless them in their work.

Services include visitation on Friday, December 20, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Cedar Memorial State Room. A service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church of Cedar Rapids on Saturday, December 21 at 10:00 AM, with a light luncheon to follow. Inurnment will be at a later date at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marshalltown.

Memorials may be given in Colleen's name to the many local non-profits that serve Cedar Rapids. Colleen says, “Bend the Arc”.