Obituary of Leon Collins

A funeral service for Leon "Nick" Collins, age 85, of Lake Park, will be held Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 10:00am at United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton, Iowa at 2:00pm. Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 28th after 3:00pm with the family present from 5:00-8:00pm at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Leon C. "Nick" Collins, the son of Harry C. and Emma Reed Collins, was born November 18, 1928 in Ireton, Iowa. He attended Ireton High School, graduating in 1951 from Lake City, Minnesota High School. He served in the Army National Guard for six years being stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia. In 1951, Leon was married to Ramona Writer. Two sons were born to this union. On October 2, 1961, he was married to Ardis Webert in Worthington, MN. Three children were born to this union. Leon was retired from the Lake Park Utilities as the Water Superintendent. After retirement, he coordinated casino bus trips with Reading Bus Lines. Leon enjoyed being with his family, fishing, hunting, playing cribbage with his friends and reading until losing his eye sight. He was a member of the Golden Kiwanis in Spirit Lake and the Lake Park Friends of the Library. Leon passed away Friday, October 24, 2014 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake at eighty-five years of age. He is survived by his wife, Ardis of fifty-three years; son, Kenneth Sr.; two daughters, Larinda Hopkins and Laila (Don) Wolterman; daughter-in-law, Betty Collins (Shadow) Minto; eight grandchildren, Emory (Theresa) Blee, Andrew (Nicole) Collins, Brandy Hopkins, Joshua Collins, Kenny (Stephanie) Collins Jr., Tyler Wolterman, Kelsey (Kasey) Polzine and Ryan Wolterman and ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Bonnie Newberg and Bonita Kaye (Lyle) Antrim; sisters-in-law, Dolores Collins and Susan Higbee and numerous nieces and nephews. Leon was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Arlin Collins and Andreas Collins; daughter-in-law, Pamela Collins; son-in-law, Rick Hopkins; eight brothers, Robert, Glenn, Edwin "Bill", Ben, Conrad, Dwight in infancy, Arlin Bruce and Richard; four sisters, Dorothy in infancy, Betty, Mary and Carol.