Colleen Ewan

Mildred Colleen Ewan, Paola, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

Services will be held at Dengel & Son Mortuary in Paola, KS, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, with burial next to her husband, Bill, in the Paola Cemetery. Visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with the funeral service starting at 11:00 a.m.

Mildred Colleen Metz Ewan was born on August 30, 1931, to George L. Metz and Lela Agnes Metz. As a child, she cried whenever she was called Mildred, so her family called her Colleen. She graduated from Olathe High School in 1948. She married Bill Ewan, her high school sweetheart, on July 22, 1948. They were happily married for 65 years while having three children.

They both received scholarships to Central Business College and attended together. She earned her AA degree from Johnson County Community College in 1975. Continuing her studies, Colleen became a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) in 1977.

Capitalizing on years of experience in title insurance and as a real estate agent, Colleen started Landmark Title Insurance Company in 1977. Later, Bill joined her at work for about 10 years and her son, Tom, and his wife, Pam, joined the company for 25 years. Landmark Title was sold in 2018 due to Tom’s illness.

Over the years, Colleen volunteered for many organizations. She was President of the Olathe affiliate of the United Presbyterian Women in 1960-61 and went on to serve as President of the Olathe United Church Women’s Group in 1965-66. She joined the Johnson County Legal Secretaries and became Corresponding Secretary in 1975 and Recording Secretary in 1976. After moving to Paola, she joined the Business and Professional Women in1978 and remained a member for 35 years. She held offices and served as its president for four years during the 1980’s. Colleen was the BPW Woman of the Year in 1983 and 2006. As a member of the Miami County Historical Museum, she served as Vice President for two years and President for four years, finally retiring at the end of 2019. Colleen served as Treasurer of the Paola Presbyterian Women from 2009-2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, Dorothy Short, her husband, Bill Ewan, and son, Tom Ewan.

Colleen is survived by her daughter, Susan Dunaway of Huntington Beach, CA; her son, Bob Ewan of Olathe, KS; daughter-in-law Pam Ewan of Paola, KS; three grandchildren, Eileen McNeil (Paul), Katie Dunaway, and Dustin Ewan (Lana) and three great-grandchildren, Parker and Elle McNeil and Eaden Ewan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Miami County Historical Museum of Paola, Kansas.