Mary Joanne Collins, 71, died on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Neb. She was born on April 29, 1950, in Dunlap, to parents Raymond and Lena (Bahr) Jochims. Mary Jo grew up in Dunlap and Woodbine. She graduated from Woodbine High School in 1968. She then moved to Omaha and worked at various jobs, including at Motorola Communications. Mary Jo married Terry Collins on Nov. 22, 1975, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Woodbine. Mary Jo and Terry lived on and farmed the Collins family farm north of Woodbine. Terry died on April 18, 1994. After Terry's death Mary Jo started working at the Assessor's Office in the courthouse. She retired from there in January of 2018.
Mary Jo was very family oriented; she loved spending time with her grandchildren and keeping in touch with extended family. She enjoyed watching sports with her grandsons, especially Husker volleyball, football and the Kansas City Chiefs and loved playing ball with all of the grandkids in the front yard. She was a very good seamstress and even made her own wedding dress. She passed on her sewing skills to some of the granddaughters.
Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Joe Peterson; husband, Terry Collins; sister, Bonnie Jochims; brother, Danny Jochims; sister-in-law, Debra Jochims. She is survived by her children, Jenny (Mike) Trebold of Gretna, Neb. and Jeff (Jamie) Collins of Woodbine; seven grandchildren, Reese and Colton Trebold, Jayden, Jacey, Jacoby, Jordyn and Jaclyn Collins; sister, Judy (Jim) Howie of Omaha; brother-in-law, Gary (Donna) Collins of Council Bluffs; and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, at Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine. Pastor Wayne Bahr presided over the service. The recorded musical selections were “Scars In Heaven” by Casting Crowns and “Imagine” by Mercy Me. The pallbearers were Adam Amato, Dave Collins, Scott Jochims, Jeremy Jochims, Ben Andersen and Doug Johnsen. Mary Jo’s final resting place is at the Woodbine Cemetery.
