Meet your Cook County Neighbor: Colleen Curtis Waltz
Apr 21, 2025 09:01AM ● By Editor
Images provided
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - April 19, 2025
Will you tell us the story about how MamaBear's Kitchen came to be?
MamaBears Kitchen came about from my family. My children always called me a mamabear. I would fight tooth and nails (claws) for them. I was always wanting to know where they were, who they were with and we had curfews and chores. I was their main advocate growing up and everyone knew it! Also, I love to cook for my family and other people. Always have. So it was logical to start selling soup at the craft sale, along with my homemade pies and other baked goods and then we moved on to the Grand Portage pow wow. I started with just soup and fry bread out of a little 16 foot camper. We moved up a couple years ago with a larger camper and my husband Bruce put in a new floor, and counter tops, it has just evolved over time.
Our menu now includes Indian tacos, cream of chicken wild rice soup, fry bread, homemade mac and cheese, Indian Joes (sloppy Joes on fry bread), pop and waters.
My soup is gluten free and my mac is vegetarian, unless you want to add bacon.
Who or what gives your strength during your battle with cancer?
My family!!! My amazing husband , Bruce, who is always by my side, My awesome 4 children: Austin, David, Jamie and Ian, along with their spouses, Melissa, Amy and James. My beautiful 7 grandbabies: Aiden, Gavin, Tristan, Owen, Brynn, Brielle and Aurora! My extended family and my siblings, nieces, nephews, Aunts, cousins, in-laws, and many friends!
I am so grateful and blessed by the good Lord and all the prayers for me and my families!
I had a family picture taken a couple years ago and I take it with and set it in front of me for every single treatment, I look at that picture and my amazingly beautiful family and that keeps me strong and positive. They are the reason to fight as hard as I can to be here longer. I want my grandchildren to KNOW me, not just OF me! They all still need me in one way or another and I’m not done!
Where is a place in Cook County that you love to go to to relax and unwind?
I was born and raised in Cook County and my go-to place has always been the beach and Lake Superior. I also enjoy spending time with my family even if it get chaotic at times. I love it!!
What is the best advice that you were ever given and how did it impact your life?
I was once told by my oldest sister Anita (passed on from cancer in 1998), "The Good Lord has his reasons for everything and to trust in his judgment”. Also she told me to say the Serenity Prayer when I was frustrated or at the end of my rope.
“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the Difference!”
That has stuck with me all my life!
Would you like to share a bit about your family? Kids, grandkids, pets?
I have the most amazing family! I’m so proud of them all! My oldest son, Austin, is a police officer in Minnesota, married to a wonderful woman, Lissy. They have 6 children that they home school, are active in their church and have all their ducks in a row! The 3 older grandchildren are involved in many sports. From track, soccer, baseball, ninja class, and ice skating. Lissy is also teaching them piano. They go on family vacations and many adventures.
My middle son, David, lives in California and works in the television industry. He has worked on many TV shows, game shows and is a Production Coordinator. He has rubbed elbows with many of the rich and famous. His wife, Amy, is amazing! She works for a university and is a brilliant professor. They have no children (yet). Amy was also a dive instructor and taught David and they have gone on trips to different parts of the world (Belise, Mexico, and New Zealand). Dave has traveled around the country for his work but mostly worked out of Hollywood.
My daughter, Jamie, is married to an amazing man, James. They have one daughter, Aurora, who has PaPa (Bruce) wrapped around her finger! Jamie has a full time job plus has a side business of her own, The Teal Butterfly Shoppe. They make soaps, lotions, bath bombs, candles and so much much more. Her husband, James, is a computer wiz and his job is setting up around the country and working on arcade games. He can fix just about any computer problem and I personally panicked when he took my laptop completely apart then put it back together. Hahahaaa. Both my daughter Jamie and her husband love to cook and try new foods. They are teaching their daughter, Aurora, to cook already (she’s 4 1/2). Jamie is also my best friend, besides my daughter.
Our youngest son, Ian, is an amazing young man. He has such a big heart. He's almost 23 and does still live at home. He is on the Autism spectrum but is high functioning. He helps his sister with her craft shows and festivals. He has also helped her make items for her Teal Butterfly Shoppe. He has learned to cook a few amazing dishes and he can make bread that is out of this world! He helps us with MamaBears Kitchen. He will dish up and is an excellent salesman. I’m hoping he will learn how to make frybread someday too!
Then last but not least there is my husband Bruce. What can I say? I have known him since I was 13 and fell in love with him way back then. But because of the age difference (7 years) we went our separate paths and didn’t meet again till seventeen years later. My heart still skipped a beat when I saw him! We have been together now since 1993 and he is my rock. He has been through this entire cancer journey with me and I know he will be with me till the end!
How can the community find out when Mama Bear's Kitchen will be open next?
When will we have MamaBears Kitchen open is a good question. Right now it depends on my health. But as of right now, I’m feeling pretty good. We will be at Hovland Art Festival on the 4th of July weekend. Look for the camper back by the community center. Also, of course, Grand Portage Rendezvous Days and Pow-Wow the second weekend in August (8,9,10). I also do the Hovland Christmas fair the Saturday after Thanksgiving (29th). I plan on being at the Grand Portage Christmas fair also. I will be selling my fry bread and soup along with baked goods and my homemade pies.
I will post on Facebook and the area community pages, sell and swap sites and put posters up. We are hoping to have another fundraising event before July, if possible. All proceeds are going towards my trips to Duluth for treatments and doctor appointments. We end up staying in hotels and eating out. It will also help if we need to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester again.
I do want to say thank you to all the friends and families that have donated already. Also I am grateful for all the prayers and support we have gotten.
Thank you from MamaBear!
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - April 19, 2025
Will you tell us the story about how MamaBear's Kitchen came to be?
MamaBears Kitchen came about from my family. My children always called me a mamabear. I would fight tooth and nails (claws) for them. I was always wanting to know where they were, who they were with and we had curfews and chores. I was their main advocate growing up and everyone knew it! Also, I love to cook for my family and other people. Always have. So it was logical to start selling soup at the craft sale, along with my homemade pies and other baked goods and then we moved on to the Grand Portage pow wow. I started with just soup and fry bread out of a little 16 foot camper. We moved up a couple years ago with a larger camper and my husband Bruce put in a new floor, and counter tops, it has just evolved over time.
Our menu now includes Indian tacos, cream of chicken wild rice soup, fry bread, homemade mac and cheese, Indian Joes (sloppy Joes on fry bread), pop and waters.
My soup is gluten free and my mac is vegetarian, unless you want to add bacon.
My family!!! My amazing husband , Bruce, who is always by my side, My awesome 4 children: Austin, David, Jamie and Ian, along with their spouses, Melissa, Amy and James. My beautiful 7 grandbabies: Aiden, Gavin, Tristan, Owen, Brynn, Brielle and Aurora! My extended family and my siblings, nieces, nephews, Aunts, cousins, in-laws, and many friends!
I am so grateful and blessed by the good Lord and all the prayers for me and my families!
I had a family picture taken a couple years ago and I take it with and set it in front of me for every single treatment, I look at that picture and my amazingly beautiful family and that keeps me strong and positive. They are the reason to fight as hard as I can to be here longer. I want my grandchildren to KNOW me, not just OF me! They all still need me in one way or another and I’m not done!
I was born and raised in Cook County and my go-to place has always been the beach and Lake Superior. I also enjoy spending time with my family even if it get chaotic at times. I love it!!
What is the best advice that you were ever given and how did it impact your life?
I was once told by my oldest sister Anita (passed on from cancer in 1998), "The Good Lord has his reasons for everything and to trust in his judgment”. Also she told me to say the Serenity Prayer when I was frustrated or at the end of my rope.
“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The Courage to change the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the Difference!”
That has stuck with me all my life!
Would you like to share a bit about your family? Kids, grandkids, pets?
I have the most amazing family! I’m so proud of them all! My oldest son, Austin, is a police officer in Minnesota, married to a wonderful woman, Lissy. They have 6 children that they home school, are active in their church and have all their ducks in a row! The 3 older grandchildren are involved in many sports. From track, soccer, baseball, ninja class, and ice skating. Lissy is also teaching them piano. They go on family vacations and many adventures.
My middle son, David, lives in California and works in the television industry. He has worked on many TV shows, game shows and is a Production Coordinator. He has rubbed elbows with many of the rich and famous. His wife, Amy, is amazing! She works for a university and is a brilliant professor. They have no children (yet). Amy was also a dive instructor and taught David and they have gone on trips to different parts of the world (Belise, Mexico, and New Zealand). Dave has traveled around the country for his work but mostly worked out of Hollywood.
My daughter, Jamie, is married to an amazing man, James. They have one daughter, Aurora, who has PaPa (Bruce) wrapped around her finger! Jamie has a full time job plus has a side business of her own, The Teal Butterfly Shoppe. They make soaps, lotions, bath bombs, candles and so much much more. Her husband, James, is a computer wiz and his job is setting up around the country and working on arcade games. He can fix just about any computer problem and I personally panicked when he took my laptop completely apart then put it back together. Hahahaaa. Both my daughter Jamie and her husband love to cook and try new foods. They are teaching their daughter, Aurora, to cook already (she’s 4 1/2). Jamie is also my best friend, besides my daughter.
Our youngest son, Ian, is an amazing young man. He has such a big heart. He's almost 23 and does still live at home. He is on the Autism spectrum but is high functioning. He helps his sister with her craft shows and festivals. He has also helped her make items for her Teal Butterfly Shoppe. He has learned to cook a few amazing dishes and he can make bread that is out of this world! He helps us with MamaBears Kitchen. He will dish up and is an excellent salesman. I’m hoping he will learn how to make frybread someday too!
Then last but not least there is my husband Bruce. What can I say? I have known him since I was 13 and fell in love with him way back then. But because of the age difference (7 years) we went our separate paths and didn’t meet again till seventeen years later. My heart still skipped a beat when I saw him! We have been together now since 1993 and he is my rock. He has been through this entire cancer journey with me and I know he will be with me till the end!
How can the community find out when Mama Bear's Kitchen will be open next?
When will we have MamaBears Kitchen open is a good question. Right now it depends on my health. But as of right now, I’m feeling pretty good. We will be at Hovland Art Festival on the 4th of July weekend. Look for the camper back by the community center. Also, of course, Grand Portage Rendezvous Days and Pow-Wow the second weekend in August (8,9,10). I also do the Hovland Christmas fair the Saturday after Thanksgiving (29th). I plan on being at the Grand Portage Christmas fair also. I will be selling my fry bread and soup along with baked goods and my homemade pies.
I will post on Facebook and the area community pages, sell and swap sites and put posters up. We are hoping to have another fundraising event before July, if possible. All proceeds are going towards my trips to Duluth for treatments and doctor appointments. We end up staying in hotels and eating out. It will also help if we need to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester again.
I do want to say thank you to all the friends and families that have donated already. Also I am grateful for all the prayers and support we have gotten.
Thank you from MamaBear!
