Colleen Elizabeth Baethke Copas was born June 24, 1965 in Albia, Iowa to Herbert and Ruth Garrison Baethke and passed away due to Stage 4 Lung Cancer, Friday, November 7, 2025. She was the 10th of 10 children and was greatly loved. She started school in the Albia Community School system but moved to Hudson, Iowa in 1975 where she attended High School.  She then moved to Warsaw, Missouri where she married James Shawmeyer and raised three children, Robert, Raymond and Rebecca. She and Jim divorced and she then married Jeff Copas. He proceeded her in death.

Colleen had a generous outgoing personality that naturally drew people.  She lived in Eudora, Kansas and worked as the night Manager of the Kwik Shop. She had a huge following of devoted customers who loved to visit and share jokes and stories all night long.  She then became a very successful Manager of a Subway Restaurant where again she developed a large following of devoted customers. After her diagnosis of lung cancer, she relocated to Maryland Heights,  Missouri to be with her SIL Rindy Baethke. Together, she and Rindy completed her Bucket List, which, included trips to both Hannibal and Branson, MO, both Gatlinburg and Nashville, TN, Carlisle, PA and Las Vegas, Nevada. She flew on a plane for the first time and made many trips to visit family and friends. She loved to read, watch cooking shows, game shows and pick on her family and friends whenever possible. She will be greatly missed.

Colleen was proceeded in death by her parents, Herbert and Ruth Baethke. Brothers Curtis, Carl, Craig and Clark.  Niece Lorene Bettis, Great Niece Sherri Seegers, and nephews Craig Bettis, Clarence Baethke and Daniel Rice.
She is survived by her three children; Robert Copas, Raymond (Kristina) Shawmeyer and Rebecca Shawmeyer.  Eleven Grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Brothers Chris, Dubuque IA, Carter, Waterloo IA. Sisters Cathy Lepart, Eudora KS, Corinne (Doug) Bettis Janesville IA and Claudia Rice, Blue Eye, MO.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday November 29th at her home in Maryland Heights with gravesite internment services next June 20th, 2026 in Saratoga Township Cemetery, Saratoga, Iowa. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hospice of Maryland Heights or the American Cancer Society with requests for children’s research support.