A Celebration of Life Gathering for Colleen June Blackford, 93, of Norwalk who passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026 will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola.  Inurnment of cremains will be at a later date in the North River Cemetery, rural Norwalk, IA.

Colleen June Blackford was born on March 22, 1932, in Webster City, Iowa, to Harold and Frances Myers. Early in her life, she moved with her parents throughout Iowa due to her father's work with the Bell Telephone Company, where he helped install some of the first telephone lines. During her teenage years, the family settled in Des Moines, and Colleen graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1950.

On September 9th, 1951, she married John Blackford at the North River Church and moved to the Blackford family farm, where she lived for the rest of her life. They welcomed a daughter, Sandra, in 1954 and a son, Jeff, in 1956. Colleen was a devoted homemaker and an active participant in her children's lives. She served as a 4‑H leader for her daughter's club, the Greenfield Boosterettes, taught Sunday school at North River Church, and contributed to numerous other church activities.

Although Colleen did not drive during her early years on the farm, she enrolled in driver's education in 1972 following the passing of her husband, John. In true, fiercely independent form, she not only learned to drive but also took on the role of farm manager, a responsibility she embraced for the rest of her life.

In her free time, Colleen enjoyed gardening, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her five grandchildren. She will be remembered for her strength, her independence, and the deep love she held for her family and her farm.

Colleen is survived by her daughter, Sandra Meyers; daughter-in-law, Pam Blackford; brother-in-law, Jim Clarke; grandchildren, Matthew Blackford, Clark (Janette Pasker) Blackford, Nathan (Marla) Meyers, Katie (Joe) Johnson and Kyle (Sarah) Blackford; great-grandchildren, Aaron Meyers, Wyatt Johnson, Eva Meyers, Audrey Meyers, Addison Johnson, Vivian Meyers, Nolan Meyers, Zoey Blackford and Jack Blackford.  She was preceded in death by her husband John Blackford; son Jeff Blackford; parents, Harold and Frances Myers; sister, Susan Clarke; and son-in-law Ron Meyers.