Colleen Marie Cowan

Colleen Marie Cowan, (nee McCracken) was born on July 1, 1945, in Eden, Manitoba, Canada, the second child of Mary (McKenzie) McCracken and George Edgar McCracken. Colleen’s father died when she was five years old, and her mother married Harvey Horner in 1953, when Colleen was eight.  She grew up in Minnedosa, Manitoba, and the family moved to a nearby farm when she was 15. 

Colleen attended grade school at the North and South schools in Minnedosa and high school at Crosley Collegiate Institute, then moved to Winnipeg at the age of seventeen to pursue a career in health care.  In 1962 she started her first job as a Health Care Aid at Princess Elizabeth Hospital, then in 1963 enrolled at Red River Community College to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. After graduation, she worked for eight years at The Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg.  After a ten year break to raise her two boys (a handful to say the least), Colleen returned to nursing.  She finished her career at Vista Park Lodge and the Fort Garry Care Center, retiring in 2006.  She made lifelong friends along the way and was extremely proud of her work.  Her years were spent in Winnipeg, Brandon, snow birding at Rio Bend resort in California, and of course, her beloved Minnedosa.  Her favorite place in her final years was the cottage overlooking Lake Minnedosa, there was no place she’d rather be.

Colleen married Wayne Cowan in Minnedosa in 1968.  They had two sons, Lee and Ryan. Caring for a household full of men had it’s challenges but Colleen was always able to handle anything they threw at her.  Her favorite trick was to label the Christmas baking “Stew” so it would last until the holidays.

Colleen loved her garden.  Sometimes the overgrown zucchini that she carried into the house was almost as big as she was.  The deck at the cottage was always full of herbs, tomatoes, and a huge assortment of flowers.  She loved watching the hummingbirds that visited, and when the orioles made an appearance, that was a special treat.

A passion throughout Colleen’s life was her love of travel. She made two trips to Europe, once by herself after a last minute cancellation by a friend.  This was quite a thing at that time and for being 22 years old.  She even crossed into Russian controlled East Berlin at the Berlin Wall, again by herself.  She travelled all over Canada and the US, The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and perhaps her favorite destination, Mexico.  She and husband Wayne, along with friends and family, made many trips to different places in Mexico over the years. A cherished memory will be of our family trip to Playa Del Carmen one month prior to her passing.  Many laughs were had by the pool overlooking the ocean that week.

Colleen loved to tell stories about Minnedosa, her career, family and friends, often delivered on that deck at the cottage. She had a keen sense of humor and somehow managed to keep her boys and husband in line all these years.  She was also known for an uncanny ability to find just the right gift for anyone, one that always took thought and care. 

Colleen died on April 18, 2025, at the I.H. Asper Institute in Winnipeg.  She is survived by her husband, Wayne; sons Lee (wife Shannon, granddaughter Brenna and grandson Bo), Ryan (wife Jenn, granddaughters Ashly ((Keiran)) and Erika ((Nick)), great granddaughter Brynn), siblings Alan Horner (Nichola), Cindy Grant (Greg),  and many loving nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ed and Mary, stepfather Harvey Horner, her brother Larry McCracken, and his wife Joy McCracken.

The family wishes to extend a heart-felt thank you to the incredible staff at the I.H. Asper Institute, and all of our family and friends for their support.  We cannot put into words how much we appreciate you all.

As per Colleen’s wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Colleen Marie Cowan, please visit our floral store.