Thelma Subramanian

Rev. Thelma Colorado Subramanian was born December 7, 1950 to Rev. Isaac N. Colorado and Marcelina M. Colorado in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. She graduated from Quirino High School in 1968, Union Theological Seminary with a Bachelor of Theology in 1975, Philippine Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work in 1977, and Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University with a Master of Divinity in 1991. She taught at Harris Memorial College, Manila, Philippines. She was a licensed social worker and taught social work classes at Philippine Christian University. She was an active advocate for social justice in the Philippines. She was the first woman to be ordained as an Elder in the Philippines Annual Conference, The United Methodist Church. She was the first woman member of the Board of Ordained Ministry of the same conference. She started a new church in Rosario, Pasig, Philippines. She pastored San Mateo, Rosario, Village, and Sta Mesa Heights United Methodist Churches in the Philippines Annual Conference. She was the Christian Education Director at Knox United Methodist Church (largest church in the Philippines). She came to the United States in 1989 to study at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, where she met her future husband who came from India to also study at SMU in 1989. Thelma married Rev. J. Samuel Subramanian on May 9, 1992, at Kalona United Methodist Church in Kalona, Iowa. She moved to Canada with her husband who was doing Ph.D. at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She served as the Director of Christian Education at First Pilgrim United Church of Canada in Hamilton, Ontario. Thelma served Kalona, Dike, Farmington-Bonaparte, Morning Sun, Tracy-Harvey, Rowley-Silver Creek, Riceville-McIntire, Fayette, Hamburg, Onawa-Turin, and Granger United Methodist Churches in the Iowa Annual Conference. For one year she lived in Portland, Maine where her husband was serving as Visiting Professor of New Testament at Bangor Theological Seminary. She retired in 2012 and moved to Woodbine, Iowa, where her husband was serving the First United Methodist church. In 2014, she moved to New Brighton, Minnesota along with her husband who was appointed to serve as the Assistant Professor of New Testament Theology at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Thelma loved to preach. She also loved music and sang in the church and family choirs. She enjoyed the company of their family dog, Shamu.

Thelma died on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at the North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota after a brief hospitalization at the age of 64 years, 10 months, and 14 days.

Thelma is survived by her husband, Rev. Dr. Professor J. Samuel Subramanian of New Brighton, Minnesota; parents, Rev. Isaac and Marcelina Colorado of Wellman, Iowa; six brothers, Rev. Bernabe (Linda) Colorado of Norwalk, Iowa, Ramsey (Freda) Colorado of the Philippines, Ray (Lura) Colorado of Ft. Worth, Texas, George (Luz) Colorado of the Philippines, Rev. Moody (Beth) Colorado of Wellman, Iowa, and Joseph (Judy) Colorado of Holmdale, New Jersey; eight nieces, eleven nephews; several grand nieces and grand nephews; and many other relatives and friends.