Colleen Ann (O'Donnell) Bumgarner

Colleen O’Donnell Bumgarner Obituary

Colleen Ann passed away peacefully on January 24, 2021 surrounded by her family.  Colleen was born March 27, 1936 in Spirit Lake, ID to Val and Anna (Schuetz) O’Donnell.  Her name was reflective of her Irish father and her strength and resiliency from her Volga German mother.  She was raised in Sandpoint, ID where the family moved a few years after her birth.  She graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1954.  She enrolled at the University of Idaho, graduating in 1958. 

It was while attending college that she met the love of her life, Bruce Bumgarner, on Main Street in downtown Moscow.  He proposed to her while they were sitting on a bench at Moscow City Park.  They were married on June 28, 1958 in Sandpoint, at St. Joseph Catholic church. They settled in Moscow, greatly enjoyed their life with each other, rarely being apart, and sharing nearly 57 years of marriage together.  Colleen ran the household and raised their three children.  In 1974 she began working at the University of Idaho in University Dining services.  She enjoyed interacting with the college students and serving the football team for pre-season training and pre-game meals.  She later moved to the coffee shop at the old Satellite SUB, retiring in 2000.

Colleen enjoyed camping and fishing trips with her family, all over Idaho, and the Pacific NW but especially on the St. Joe River.  She was an avid reader, and loved reading mysteries. She also enjoyed crocheting, particularly baby blankets.  She was a Campfire leader when her children were younger, and an area captain for the regional TOPS Clubs, and assisted in planning a state TOPS convention.

Colleen and Bruce were active in the Northwest Soaring Society (NWSS), for radio controlled sailplanes.  They traveled the NWSS contest circuit throughout the Pacific NW in the summertime, often referring to the group as their summertime family. Colleen served as treasurer for the NWSS for a number of years and received the club service award. 

In her retirement she was active with the Vandal Boosters, serving on the Vandal Booster board.  She and Bruce were often seen selling 50/50 tickets during Vandal football games for the Vandal Scholarship Fund (VSF).  She and Bruce received the Elsbeth Bush Distinguished Service Award in 2009 for their work with VSF.  In October of 2017 Colleen received the Hometown Heroes Award for her involvement in the community and university.  Colleen was also proud to be an Ambassador for the city of Moscow.  She enjoyed meeting various friends and groups for lunch on a regular basis. At the time of her death, Colleen was residing in an independent apartment at Good Samaritan in Moscow, where she was actively involved in the Good Sam community and activities, and enjoyed her many old and new friends.

Colleen was preceded in death by her husband Bruce and her parents.  She is survived by her children Cathy (Arthur) Boysen, Veradale, WA; Nancy (Noel) Barnes, Renton, WA; Bob ( Janice) Bumgarner, West Jordan, UT; and  grandchildren Brandon, Brianne, Becca Bumgarner and Jalen Barnes; sister in law Kathy Bumgarner and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held a later date in late spring. Memorials may be made to the University of Idaho Vandal Scholarship Fund, Good Samaritan Village in Moscow, or any Breast Cancer Society or group.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Colleen Ann (O'Donnell) Bumgarner, please visit our floral store.