SONJA COLLAMER

Sonja Collamer, longtime Saratoga resident and community leader, died Sunday in Laramie. She was 86.

Born in Rapid City, SD, her family moved to Denver after WWII. She graduated from Denver West High School and went on to earn a BS degree in bacteriology from Colorado State University. After graduation, she and her husband, John Collamer of Hanna, moved to Chicago to fulfill his military service as a veterinarian.

Returning to Wyoming in 1963, they partnered in operating the Saratoga Veterinary Clinic for many decades, treating both large and small animals and serving hundreds of families in the North Platte Valley. In addition to her duties as practice manager, Collamer contributed endless hours to organizations including the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce and Girl Scouts, as well as to the First Presbyterian Church of Saratoga and numerous roles with the State of Wyoming Presbytery Board. She also served on the Wyoming State Medical Board, Carbon County Republican Party Committee, Carbon County School District 2, and as vice-chair of the Platte Valley Healthcare Project which oversaw construction of the North Platte Valley Medical Center.

She is survived by her daughters and sons and their spouses, Deb (Gus) Ridlen and Kerry (Mark) Steward, Mike (Lori Denny-) Collamer and Ken (Susan) Collamer, as well as by 15 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, October 13 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Saratoga. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Saratoga or the North Platte Valley Medical Center.