Robert Collins

Robert James (Bob) Collins was the second of six children born to Jim and Hilda (Mattson) Collins. He was born near Buck Grove on August 9, 1935. Many, many years later he purchased this farm of his birthplace.

Bob spent his youth on a farm north of Arion, IA. In his formative years, he immediately worked long and hard and never wavered from an extremely diligent work ethic until he was over 90 years old. He attended country school through 8th grade when he joyfully became a full-time farmer as he desired!

When Bob was 18, the family moved to a farm south of Denison, and in 1959 Jim and Hilda purchased a neighboring farm which was destined to become the “home place” as the years passed on.

Bob spent six months of active duty in the National Guard in the winter of 1957-1958. Bob worked on a highway construction crew from spring to November during 1958, 1959 and 1960, when he came home to join his parents full-time in the farm operation. He and his dad raised a lot of hogs. Bob purchased his first farm, and then he purchased his parent’s farm when they retired to Denison and Bob and Joann moved onto the farm following their marriage.

Bob would tell you that the best day of his life was the night at the fair when he met Joann Thies, who was born and raised on a farm near Charter Oak, and was working in Omaha when they met. It was love at first sight, and they were married on August 3, 1963, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. Bob and Joann shared a great love for their Lord and Savior all of their lives.

God blessed them with three wonderful sons and one precious daughter: David, Dianne, Dale, and Wayne.

Bob never had one hobby in his life: all that brought him joy and fulfillment was working hard and most of all, the love of the people in his life. Psalm 104:22-23 tells of a man who well-describes Bob. “When the sun rises....Man goes out to his work, and to his labor until the evening.” He often had to hurry as he stopped working for the day to get to the house to catch the 10:00 p.m. news and forecast! You know how every farmer has to see the daily and 10-day forecast!

At the time of his death when he peacefully went home to be with Jesus in his sleep at the farm he so cherished on April 8, 2026, Bob had attained the milestone age of 90. Those left to cherish his memory are his treasured wife, Joann; four children, David and his wife Adrienne; Dianne Bruck and her husband, Jeff; Dale; and Wayne, all of Denison.

Also by his 4 grandchildren who he adored: Conner and Michael who have joined the family farm operation much to Grandpa Bob’s joy; and Grace and Tricia who he also loved hearing about their adventures and watching them enjoy the farm life as well.

Bob was survived by his sisters, Mary Jo Mueggenberg and Coleen Schrum and her husband, Skip all of Denison. Also his sisters-in-law, Janice Bendixen of Waukee, IA;

Mary Ann Collins of Arion, IA and Janice Grap of Ida Grove, IA and many nieces and nephews who were deeply loved by their Uncle Bob.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Jim, who he enjoyed farming with, in 1971; by his mother, Hilda, who he cherished and nurtured until her death in 2005.

A heartbreaker was the death of his deeply loved sister, Donna Meyer, in 1959, and her husband Dean in 1964. The hardest days of his life were when his brothers left this earth, for they were his two greatest buddies as well as his brothers; Gene who died in 1994 and Roger who died in 2015.

Also preceding Bob in death were his in-laws, Marie Thies in 1975 and Herbert in 2001 both of whom Bob deeply admired and loved. Among those who preceded him in death were his brothers-in-law Don Williams in 1976 and Dr. Romaine (Dr. Ben) Bendixen in 2019 and Don Grap in 2023.

He was also preceded in death by his young nephew Dean Grap in 1981 and his niece, Barbara Collins Riley in 2010 and great-nephew Dakotah Collins in 2014.

These dear people would have been joined by countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who Bob so enjoyed visiting with in life who would have been there to greet him at Heaven’s Gate. Heaven will be Bob’s kind of place as he loved God deeply plus he will be reunited with loved ones, visiting with them in a realm where there is no time, but only all of eternity! Bob had a great life and family. He was so blessed in every way, and he knew it! But he, as well as the rest of us, know that all will fade monumentally in comparison to being in Heaven!

Faith, family, farming, good food and good fellowship with his friends and neighbors lit up Bob’s life. Bob was an incredibly hard-working man who loved his family, a man who carefully tended the land, and a humble man who cared for his cattle, the kitties and the farm dogs with great care and compassion. Proverbs 12:10 says “A righteous man regards the life of his animal…” Bob experienced the faithfulness, care and love of his wife and family and he found great success in becoming a very diligent cattleman and farmer for all the days of his long life. To God alone be all of the Glory for His many blessings He bestowed on Bob.

A rosary will be held at 3:30 p.m., followed by visitation with family and friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Vigil Service will begin at 7:00 p.m., followed by a shared family reflection, all on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. Interment will follow in the St. Rose Cemetery in Denison.