Munz, Coletta Catherine (Laufenberg)

Coletta Catherine (Laufenberg) Munz, age 97, of Avoca/Highland passed away on January 17, 2025 at CrestRidge Assisted Living in Dodgeville. She was born on a farm in rural Highland on October 13, 1927 to Edward C. and Catherine (Wolfe) Laufenberg. She attended St. Anthony's Catholic School in Highland and was a life-long member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church and a member of the Altar Society.

She met Felix Munz at a dance in 1944 when they were doing a circle dance. He managed to end up in front of her each time the music stopped so they danced together all evening. They were married on April 7, 1947 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. They moved to the Munz family farm in 1949 where they became the fourth generation to own the farm in 1963. Coletta was a true partner to Felix—milking cows, unloading hay and feeding pigs. She had a special affinity for baby animals—kittens, calves and piglets. She and Felix moved to CrestRidge Assisted Living in 2017 where she participated in the craft and music activities and made many new friends. She and Felix celebrated more than 72 years together until his death on August 12, 2019.

She was an excellent cook and gardener, a talented seamstress and quilter and a wonderful mother. She will be remembered by anyone who knew her as a kind, sweet woman of deep faith and good humor. Someone once said of her that they "didn't know how God could put so much kindness into such a little person." She enjoyed farm life and traveling with Felix, but her greatest joy was her family.

She is survived by five children, Joyce (Lyle) Hach of Middleton, Cathy (Steve Whitsitt) of Verona, James (Lynn) of Highland, Ruth (Tom Kalinke) of Madison; and Bruce (Debbie) of Plymouth; ten grandchildren, Jennifer Hach (Michael McCabe), Jeremy Hach (Amanda Lunde), Jordan (Lauren) Hach, Jody (Tim) Stolldorf, Karen (John) Mead, Jason (Naomi) Munz, Ryan (Jessica) Munz, Brandon (Tabitha) Munz, Cortney (Chris) Loeffler, and Kayla Munz; 11 great-grandchildren, Kiera McCabe, Felicity and Henry Mead, Hunter, Westley and Mya Munz, JJ and Roxy Munz, and Alexis Schipper, Dylan Anderson, Chayse D'Angelo, and Zayden and Jayce Loeffler and two great-great grandchildren, Colton Oshefsky and Kameron Crook. She is further survived by her sisters-in-law, Mary Helen Meudt of Dodgeville and Florence Munz of Milford, Connecticut, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Felix, her parents, and step-mother Etta Laufenberg, her brothers and sisters, Mildred (Leo) Buening, John (Gwen) Laufenberg, Grace (Harold) Kitsemble, Raphael (Dorothy) Laufenberg, Cletus (Melvina) Laufenberg, Rita (Ralph) Cordts, Florian (Donna) Laufenberg and Hilary Laufenberg; her in-laws, Larry (Lorraine) Munz, Bernard Munz, Leo Munz, Lucille Meudt and Donald Meudt.

The family wishes to thank the staff at CrestRidge Assisted Living for their exceptional and loving care of our mother during the past seven years, Dr. Rachel Hartline and Home Health Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to Ss. Anthony and Philip Catholic Church or the Highland Fire Department/EMS.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 12:00 Noon at Ss. Anthony and Philip Catholic Church, Highland. Visitation will be at the church from 9:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. prior to the Mass. Burial will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery, Highland, following the Mass. The McGuire-Peterson-Houck Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.houckfuneralhomes.com

 McGuire-Peterson-Houck 

Funeral Home

Highland 608-929-4815

www.houckfuneralhomes.com