Loss of an advocate for water, nature, people

Colleen Werdien of Anoka, Minnesota, was a member of the LWV UMRR Board since 2022.   Sadly, Colleen died on May 5.   Her grace, thoughtful comments and passionate advocacy stand as a testament and example for all.   Her engagement with LWV lifts us all up.
​
Colleen was involved with many causes and organizations.  For LWV UMRR, Colleen carried the work of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership into her work in our Action Committee.    Her strong passion for the environment showed through in her articulate advocacy for water protection.  She was especially concerned about groundwater, leading discussion of the appropriation of groundwater for bottled water sales.  

Colleen's family remembers her a lively and fun aunt who loved card games and  family times together!  

Her academic field was public health, but her many  interests ranged far afield from that.

Those who attended the 2025 LWV MN convention will no doubt recall Colleen staffing the LWV UMRR Water Bar, where people could taste drinking water from around the state and try to guess its origin.  The next day, as Gretchen Sabel talked about the work of LWV UMRR to the assembled multitudes, Colleen roamed the room tossing candy to (at) the participants.  She was sparkling and everyone had fun!  ​

Also a member of LWV ABC, the local League serving Anoka, Colleen carried her advocacy and strong voice into her work locally.  She gave a passionate speech to LWV ABC in support of a request to the County Board for a groundwater hydrologist.  You can see Colleen's speech in the video at the bottom of this post - she's on from 4:15 to 8:57.

LWV ABC members remember Colleen as thoughtful and caring. She showed up and was happy to help when needed. 

Colleen's other involvements (that we know of...)
The Rum River Art Center in Anoka offers a variety of art classes.  Angie Renee, artist and teacher, said Colleen was in many of her classes.  Angie remembers Colleen as soft spoken and creative.  Two of her recent classes were Outside the Line and Mixed Media, where Colleen has been drawing and painting buffaloes.

Colleen was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka.  She carried her advocacy here as well, serving on the Creation Care team.  Her creativity and free spirit were evident at their meetings.​

Colleen was elected as a Supervisor to the Anoka Conservation District in 2021.   ​Here's a welcome introduction that the Anoka Conservation District shared when Colleen was elected:  

Photo - Anoka Conservation District

Colleen Werdien is a Minnesota native, growing up with her family in Mounds View before moving to Anoka County 25 years ago. She settled first in Columbia Heights, but seven years ago when she saw an article in the paper about an old house for sale that was originally built in 1852, she decided to move to the city of Anoka very near the banks of the Rum River.

Growing up, nature was always easily accessible for Colleen. In her childhood home, Colleen fell in love with the knee-high prairie grasses and small creek running through her backyard and the forest right across the street. Colleen carried these experiences in nature throughout her life, naming several significant places in Minnesota she loves to visit today including the Boundary Waters, Jeffers Petroglyphs in the southwest, and the prairies of Pipestone.

Her home in Anoka sits on ¾ of an acre that is largely shaded by mature trees. In her sunny boulevard, Colleen tends to a variety of native plants that are beneficial for pollinators while working to keep the invasive weeds and buckthorn at bay. If she's not out in her yard, you are most likely to find Colleen pursuing one of her many artistic interests from pottery to felt and wool, and from drawing to playing the ukulele and piano!

Colleen is already an active member of her community working with several local organizations and volunteer groups. She is an active member of the Andover Pollinator Awareness Project as well as the Anoka County Master Gardeners, both of which allow her to work with and advocate for the native prairie plants and flowers she adores. In addition, Colleen volunteers for her church and serves on the HRA Board working to purchase and revitalize homes that have fallen into disrepair.

Still, Colleen felt the desire to do more for her community to make an impact. She has been concerned about the state of our natural resources her whole life and when she learned of the work ACD does, she knew she would be able to make a big impact in conservation work throughout the county as a supervisor.

---