John B. Collins

John B. Collins, 78, of Mason City, died Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM Monday, May 11, 2015 at the First Assembly of God Church, 1301 N. Carolina Avenue with Pastor George Ady officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 5:00 PM Sunday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue at the church on Monday one hour before services. John was born June 18, 1936 in Gayville, South Dakota the son of Alfred and Margaret (Stricklett) Collins. He graduated from South Sioux City High School then attended Morningside College in Sioux City. John went on to graduate from North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. John married Ruth Marie Hunter August 13, 1956 in South Sioux City. John and Ruth lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Minneapolis, Minnesota, back to Kalamazoo then to Sioux City before moving to Mason City in 1975. John worked for the Iowa Department of Health as a social worker for 30 years. He retired in 1998. He was a member of the First Assembly of God Church and a past member of the Gideons. John volunteered as a Foster Grandparent with the Mason City Schools working at the elementary level and was actively involved in attending his grandchildren’s events and activities. John is survived by his 6 children, Larry (Pam) Collins of Indianola, Colleen (Brian) Schupanitz of Indianola, Pam Lawrence of Mason City, Steve (Suntorn) Collins of Phenix City, Alabama, Phil (Denell) Collins of Hobart, Indiana and Jim (Jennifer) Collins of Mason City; grandchildren, Lynne (Andrew) Toivonen, Richard (Corinne) Collins, Sara, Benjamin and Joshua Schupanitz, Danielle Lawrence, Jonathon Lawrence and special friend Ashley O’Hern, Jean (Eric) Niles, Miranda Collins, Evan and Noah Collins; 12 great grandchildren; brother, Louis (Marge) Collins of Mason City along with several other siblings not living in the North Iowa area. John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ruth and 2 brothers.

Memorials may be directed to the John Collins Memorial Fund.