Coletta Schultz (McGrath), of Dubuque, passed away at the age of 92 on Friday May 31st, 2024 at Bethany Home Retirement Center.

Visitation will be from 9:15 am to 10:15 am on Friday June 7th followed by a mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am. Both the visitation and mass will be at St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Entombment will be in the Resurrection Garden Mausoleum, Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Coletta was born on February 16th, 1932, in Lattnerville, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Anna (Lucas) McGrath. Love brought Merlin “Bud” Schultz and Coletta together in marriage on December 10, 1949 at St. Anthony Catholic Church. The pair were known as “Bud” and “Coke”.  They loved to travel and take cruises.  They were best friends until Bud preceded her in death on April 30th, 2013.

Coletta attended Dubuque Senior High School but left before graduating to support her family. She was employed at the Dubuque Packing Company for 29 years where she was a proud member of Local #150 until her retirement in 1982. She later worked for Robert’s River Rides. She traveled up the Mississippi River from Biloxi, Mississippi on the maiden voyage of the “Mississippi Belle“, working to get it ready for its tenure in Dubuque.

A devout Catholic, she spent time every day saying prayers, the rosary, and attending mass.  She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and the St. Peregrine Prayer Group.

Coletta was a huge fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Dubuque Fighting Saints.  She rooted them on in person whenever she could. Other interests included: listening to the music in the gardens at the Dubuque Arboretum, enjoying a night at the Fireside Dinner Theatre, and taking advantage of all activities she could at Bethany Home Retirement Center.

Coletta is survived by her children, Corey Schultz (Monica) of Davenport, IA, and Mira (Matt) Kukla, of Troy, MI; her son-in-law, Roger Higley of Dubuque, IA; & Laurie Schultz, of Davenport, IA; she was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Coletta loved and was extremely proud of her family and was more than eager to tell everyone all about them and their accomplishments.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Michele Higley, of Dubuque, IA and her son, Colin Schultz, of Hampton, MN. Siblings (and spouses): Ralph (Bernadine) McGrath, Vernon (Eleanor) McGrath, Anna Mae (Albert) Hoist, Brother- in- law, Robert (Phyllis) Schultz, all of Dubuque and Chester (Eunice) McGrath of Cedar Rapids, IA, also passed before Coletta.

Thank you to all who knew, loved, and cared for Coletta. Special thanks to the staff at Bethany Home & Hospice of Dubuque for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Coletta’s memory may be made to Bethany Home Retirement Center or Hospice of Dubuque.