Where Caring Is A Family Tradition
Elaine G. Collins, age 96 of Omro, died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease on October 13, 2022. She was born December 5, 1925, in Poygan to the late Gerald H. and Hilda A. (Schmude) Tritt. Elaine graduated from Omro High School in 1943. She married Lloyd H. Collins on June 2, 1944, at Grace Lutheran Church in Omro. Elaine worked at Oshkosh B’Gosh until she retired in 1963 due to a battle with breast cancer. She was a well-known seamstress throughout her life which she continued even after returning to the work force at Omro Products and then eventually at Sears in Oshkosh, where she worked for nearly 20 years until full retirement.
Elaine was very active at Grace Lutheran Church in Omro where she sang in the church choir for many years. She started a mission quilting group in her home that grew until it had to be moved to the fellowship hall at church. She made many of the banners, large and small, for the church. After retirement, Elaine volunteered at Second Harvest Food Pantry for 12 years, the Omro Community Center, was a poll worker for several years during elections, and started the Omro Thrift Store with Gerald Smith. She also worked at the Lutheran Thrift Store in Berlin for many years until she moved to St. Francis Terrace Assisted Living in Fond du Lac after the passing of Lloyd after 63 years of marriage. She resided there for 8 years until she moved to Webster Manor in Omro where she resided until the time of her death. She and Lloyd loved to dance and traveled to all 50 states and many foreign countries. She enjoyed collecting spoons from each state, making quilts and afghans, and gardening. She always kept busy and did not like to sit around.
Elaine is survived by four children, Dian (John) Sheldon of Oshkosh, Stan Collins (Bev Warner) of Omro, Steve (Shelley) Collins of Oshkosh, and Nancy (Joe) Capelle of Fond du Lac. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren, 3 sisters, Janet Ticks of Winneconne, June Smith of Berlin, and Beverly (Edward) Rehfeldt of Larsen; 2 brothers, Berneil Tritt of Oshkosh, Delroy (Joyce) Tritt of Oshkosh; and other relatives and friends.
Along with her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Collins; Lloyd’s parents; an infant daughter Arlene Joyce Collins; 2 sisters, Arlita Tritt and Carol Hinz; 2 brothers, Gerald Tritt and Sherdan Tritt; in-laws, Betty and Raymond Collins, Phyliss Ostwald, Lorraine Tritt, and Earl Collins; and 1 grandson, Gregory Collins.
A visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 720 Jackson Ave., Omro WI. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Pastor Mark Wenzel officiating. Burial will follow in the Omro Cemetery. Mueller Funeral Home-Winneconne is serving Elaine and her family.
Elaine’s family would like to thank the staff at Webster Manor of Omro for all their love and kindness shown her, and the care and support given to Elaine and family. They would also like to thank Aurora Home Hospice for their care and support given to Elaine and her family.
If you wish, please submit online condolences to muellerfh.net.
Colleen Tritt Keen (Corky) wrote on October 17, 2022
TAKE THE LOVE
Take the love you had for me
and turn it into laughter
turn it into blinding light
to shine on you thereafter
Take the love you have for me
and show it to the world
something so amazing
needs to blossom and unfurl
Take the love that made us
keep it burning bright
let that fire guide you
let it warm you through the night
Take the love you shared with me
and spread it out with gladness
my life will not have been in vain
if you can fight the sadness
Take the love my darling
it’s yours to carry on
grow that love forevermore
and then I won’t be gone.
Poem by
Donna Ashworth
To my cousin's, Dian, Nancy, Steve, and Stan:
I am so sorry for your heartache in losing your mom. It's a hard loss.
Your mom was always kind to me and I loved her joyful laugh.
Thinking of you and wishing you comfort. Colleen Ann (Corky)
Larry Dobberstein wrote on October 16, 2022
Steve , Nancy, & family. I remember your mom. She was such a nice lady. My sincere sympathy and peace to you all.