Ruth Collins

About Our Mom

Mom was born on December 4, 1927, in Berlin, Germany. All of her life, she had a strong attachment to her German heritage.

After raising her children in Des Moines, Mom remarried in 1978. She and her husband, Tom Collins, moved to the Chicago area, and then onto Tennessee. Mom loved and felt a strong attachment to Tennessee and her neighbors and friends there. During the summers, her grandsons, David and Mike, spent time traveling to historical site with their “Oma and Tom”. Mike describes his Oma as “a great grandmother”.

Following Tom’s passing in 2004, Mom moved back to Des Moines to be close to Larry and Laura. She was always active, caring for her home and walking the Greenbelt. She loved attending the theater – especially musicals with Laura and daughter-in-law Patty. She was a traveler and made regular trips to Austin to spend time with her grandsons, Kurt and Jonathan. Saturday mornings spent with Larry – her “Mr. Fixit” who she believed could do anything – perfectly.

During her last years, Mom became involved in the Senior Citizens Center. She made friends there who brought her much enjoyment.

We are sending Mom off with two of her basic necessities a Kleenex and a toothpick. She will be wearing her favorite necklace, which she called “Tom.” And she will have her wedding ring from her marriage to our father. We know this will make her smile. We love her and will miss her.

Susan, Larry and Laura

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