Alice J. Collins

Alice J. Collins, 95, of Mason City, died Thursday, September 26, 2013, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M., on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Gavin and Bruce Collins officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Monday (September 30, 2013) and continue one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield, IA. A lunch and time of sharing will follow the committal service at the Sheffield Inn, 223 S. Gilman, Sheffield, IA. Alice Josephine Collins was born on October 8th, 1917 in Sheffield IA. She was the oldest of three children born to Martha (Koeningsberg) and Henry Treganza. When she was a young girl the family moved from the south part of Sheffield on Maple Street to the north side of town, next to the high school, where she lived until leaving home. Some of Alice's childhood memories include what she called 'living on roller skates' up until she was old enough to use her father's bicycle. She enjoyed reading and her birthday gift was always a library card. Alice took 'normal training' in high school so she could teach country school and was a class valedictorian when she graduated in 1935. Later, she taught at a school near Aredale, Ia. It was during this time she met her future husband, Alvin Collins. They were married on December 27th 1937. Alice and Alvin moved to Minneapolis and attended Northwestern bible school. After one summer at a bible camp in Montana they returned to Iowa. The family then moved to Chicago during the war, again returning to Iowa and finally settling in Mason City in 1946, where they remained. Alice's life centered around her large family and the many day to day responsibilities it involved. She was constantly working in the kitchen. She helped manage the family bee-keeping business and sold honey out of the front door. She was a good homemaker and mother. Alice often said that although she grew up attending the Baptist church with her grandmother and went to bible school after she was married, she did not know the Lord until she was saved at twenty-four years of age, through the testimony of the late Chauncey Yost and Oliver Smith. She was received into fellowship with Christians at the Aredal Iowa gospel hall. Later she met in fellowship with Christians at the Mason City, Iowa gospel hall. After breaking her hip in late November of 2008, Alice resided at the Good Shepherd Health Center, Mason City. She passed away on September 26, 2013 at 95 years of age. She is survived by nine children. A. Victor and Marilyn (Adkins) of Hazleton IA, Gavin and Shirley (Weber) of Roseville MN, Bruce and Geneva (Lubben) of Waterloo IA, Mark and Jane of Springville IA, Priscilla of Manly IA, Dan of Little River SC, Reuben and Nancy (Haglund) of Golden CO, Joel of Mason City IA and Bethany and Hershel Erwin of Panora IA. Also surviving Alice are 16 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her two brothers, James and Harry; her parents, Henry and Martha; and two young daughters, Judith (Alice) and Rebecca (Josephine).

Cemetery:
Interment will be at the Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield, IA. A lunch and time of sharing will follow the committal service at the Sheffield Inn, 223 S. Gilman, Sheffield, IA

Visitation:
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Monday (September 30, 2013) and continue one hour prior to the service

Service:
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M., on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at Major Erickson Funeral Home