On Tuesday, February 1, 2011, Mildred Elizabeth Collett Whalen quietly went to join her loving husband Bill, from complications of Alzheimers.

Celebration of life services will be held 1:00 p.m. Sunday, February 6, 2011 at the Jones Eden Funeral Home in Washington. In lieu of visitation an open house for all family and friends will be held from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Dwight and Nancy Sutton residence, 727 South Iowa Avenue. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be sent for Mildred's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com or on Facebook.

Mildred (Milly) was born March 9, 1932 in Washington, Iowa the daughter of Oscar C. and Violet (Engle) Collett. Mildred attended school in Washington, Iowa. She fell in love and married her soul mate, William Edward Whalen Sr., (Bill to his friends).

She gew up on a farm south of Washington and attended Red Brick School. She worked at McCleery Cumming Calendar Factory retiring after 40 years. Mildred and Bill enjoyed teaching their extended family to camp, roast marshmallows over the fire, hunt for night crawlers, bait the fishing line, and tell BIG fish stories. Mostly they enjoyed spending time with their family and watching grandson Tyler play football and wrestle and cheer for John, Bill and Tyler as they race cute little cars at Columbus Junction. Following the death of her husband, Mildred moved in with her daughter Nancy where she kept life interesting and fun. Mom enjoyed having her family close as she lived out her last days at the Washington Care Center. We want to thank everyone who so lovingly helped care for our parents, especially Sherri, Bill, Danielle and Trevor.

Mildred is survived by daughter, Nancy Sutton and husband Dwight of Washington, Iowa; son, Wiliam "Bill" Whalen Jr. of Washington, Iowa; son, John Whalen of Washington, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Tyler, Tara, Danielle, Sean, Jason, JB and Jereme; and nine great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Fish of Fayette, Iowa; brother, John Collett and wife Joan of Washington, Iowa; and her sister Marilyn Weatherman of Washington, Iowa and many nieces and nephews. They were very close to many children in the family especially Hoss, Sherri, Josh, Kim, Diane, Rich, Maggie and Jerry.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in 2007; five sisters, Hazel Warnkin, Eva Mitchell, Lucille Orr, Bee Behrend, Martha Johnston; and one brother Clarence "Buck" Collett.