Colleen Pollat

Colleen Pollat
Feb. 17, 1936–Oct. 1, 2020
Colleen Pollat passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Oct. 1, 2020. 
She was born Feb. 17, 1936, on Cambria Street in Newcastle, Wyo., to Harold and Rhoda Cool. Colleen grew up on the family ranch north of Four Corners on the prairie. She went to country school as a child, and later to school
in Newcastle. 
Colleen met a cowboy, Paul Pollat, who was the love of her life, and they were married in 1953 in Custer, S.D. Paul and Colleen were inseparable and Colleen was by his side for 31 years of marriage. In the early years Colleen worked hard with Paul as he managed big ranches in Wyoming and Nevada. She cooked lots of meals for ranch hands and had many adventures that are too numerous to share here. Her son Mark has lots of stories from those early days. While Paul trained polo horses for the Wallop’s in Big Horn, Colleen drove to Sheridan, Wyo., to beauty school, all the while raising three children, Mark, Becky, and Ward. She became a beautician in 1965. 
The family moved to Carpenteria, Calif., in 1967 where she got to enjoy time at the polo fields and the beach. The family then moved to Newhall, Calif., as Paul worked at an oil rig inside of a skyscraper in downtown
Los Angeles. 
Throughout all the years of moving, she always made the house a home. She was truly gifted as an interior decorator. She laughed about having to keep the walls white in Newhall so instead of decorating she began to paint oil landscapes. Becky couldn’t wait to get home from school each day to see the progress her mom had made on her painting. Colleen also helped out two elderly ladies in the neighborhood. She went back to school and got her high school diploma from William S. Han High School and gave the graduation speech for her adult class. Even though she was a cosmetologist already, Colleen wanted her high
school diploma. 
The family moved back to Newcastle in the summer of 1971. While Paul did his fencing business she worked part time at the Newcastle Men’s Store and later worked at Newcastle Drug and Jewelry.
Colleen was active and involved in causes that mattered to her, and offered support to many people going through tough times. She became a member of NAMI and was an advocate for others and families. She also started a support group for those living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Colleen loved to grow beautiful flowers and her gardens were an inspiration to everyone walking in the neighborhood. 
Colleen was always there for her family and friends. Colleen’s grandsons, Anthony and Miles, brought her much joy in life. She was an inspiration to them and a wonderful grandma. She went to numerous T-ball, baseball, basketball, football, soccer games and events. 
In her later years, Colleen embarked on another passion and wrote an historical book that took years of research, titled “Secrets, The Tom Wagoner Story.” She later helped publish the book “Cambria,” an endeavor with Neil Sweet and Alice Schuette. She was a member of the Weston County Historical Society, P.E.O., and a member of the Methodist church. One of Colleen’s sayings was, “you better know what you believe and why you believe it,” and she lived her life by faith in God and by “True Grit.” Colleen will be greatly missed by her family and numerous friends she had through the years.
Colleen is survived by her son, Mark Pollat; her daughter, Becky Wilkening; and her grandsons, Anthony and Miles Wilkening. She is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews, and close family friends, Lenny and
Ann Sedgwick.
Colleen is now with the Lord Jesus, she fought the good fight, 2 Timothy 4:7-8. 
She was preceded in death by her twins, Michael and Daniel; her husband, Paul Pollat; her son, Ward Pollat; her parents, Harold and Rhoda Cool; and her brothers, Floyd and Dale Cool.
Colleen was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle, on Oct. 2, 2020. A memorial service may be held at a future date. 
In honor of her memory you can send a card and share a story about Colleen to the family at 111 W. Warwick, Newcastle WY 82701.