Cover photo for Victor Colago's Obituary
Victor Colago Profile Photo
1927 Victor 2010

Victor Colago

May 8, 1927 — February 28, 2010

Dr. Victor M. Colago, or ‘Doc’ as everyone knew him, was the oldest of the six children of Cipriano and Clemencia Colago. He was born May 8, 1927 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines and had a very active childhood in San Pablo, until it was interrupted by WW II. At 15, he became the youngest member of his father’s guerilla unit serving with the 1st Calvary Medical Evacuation Unit stationed at San Pablo. It was this experience that started him on the path to medical school.



In 1954, he graduated from the University Of Santo Thomas School Of Medicine and did his internship. In 1956, his courtship of Jasminia Udasco resulted in their marriage on May 17, 1956. Also in 1956, he applied and was accepted as part of a group of physicians recruited to fill a shortage of physicians in the US. Shortly after their honeymoon, Victor set foot in Minneapolis, MN and began a new career. He was Surgical Resident of Swedish Hospital and Pathology Resident for St. Barnabas Hospital. In October of 1956, Jasmin was finally able to join him in Minneapolis. The only other family that the two of them had was Jasmin’s older brother, Roland, who was an assistant Professor at the U of M. So Doc and Jasmin settled in Minneapolis and made many friends and touched many lives, including adding a daughter, Armina in 1957 and a son Roland “Butch” in 1959.



When the visa extensions did not include his group, Doc and Jasmin chose to go to Winnipeg, Canada. There he was the Surgical Resident at Winnipeg Children’s Hospital mainly performing heart surgeries. In 1961, they had one more son, Douglas, who in Doc’s later years would be his golf partner and comfort to him and Jasmin.



After 3 ½ years, Doc and Jasmin’s immigration papers were approved after the hardwork of ‘Mads’ Madsen of Graceville, Herman Backus, Stan Ronning, Dwight Medbery, Ike Bigelow, Horatio “Rosy” Garberick, the whole town of Browns Valley, Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey and Sen. Walter F. Mondale. In 1966, Doc hung out his shingle at the Browns Valley Clinic and remained there ever since. He enjoyed his patients, friends, building a life with Jasmin and their children.



Doc lived the true definition of the town doctor - - delivering children, the children’s children, and the children’s grandchildren, caring for patients and their families, even if they didn’t live here. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Church, attended faithfully, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a Veteran and for many years attempted to locate several of the doctors that were in the 1st Calvary Med Evac Unit that he had admired long ago.



He enjoyed watching baseball, watching the kids in sports activities – often traveling a hundred miles or so to watch his grandkids compete, hunting, fishing, bowling, and most especially golfing. He loved to retell his adventures with his hunting buddies, talking about his hole-in-one at the golf course and how that day’s golf game went. He enjoyed spoiling his wife of 53 years, partner, and long-time golf partner, Jasmin; his children Armina, Butch, and Doug; but most special to him were all of his grandchildren: Marie, Michael, Melanie, Miles, Joe and Lindsay; and his great-grandchild Owen and he was especially looking forward to meeting the newest great-grandchild, Sage.



Doc suffered a stroke of Wednesday, February 23, 2010. Even there he made quite an impression, giving orders to the staff and joking with them, fully aware of where he was having Jasmin by his side. He was surrounded and serenaded by his loving family as he passed peacefully on Sunday February 28, 2010 at Innovis Hospital, Fargo, ND at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 20 days.



He leaves behind his wife Jasmin; daughter Armina (David) Spindler and their children Joseph Colago and Lindsay Spindler; Son Roland “Butch” (Linnea) Colago and their children Marie (Casy) Martineau with great-grandson Owen, Michael (Erin) Colago with great-granddaughter Sage, Melanie Colago and Miles Colago; and Son Douglas Colago.



He is preceded in death by his parents, younger sister Celia, brother-in-law Roland Udasco.



Larson Funeral Home in Browns Valley is in charge of arrangements.

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