Collins, Lorene Rose

Lorene Rose Collins passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Her Irish eyes smiled on us for over 90 years.

Lorene was born in her home in Mazomanie, WI, to Lorin and Rosella Tollison, on August 3, 1933. The family later moved to Barneveld, WI where she was crowned prom queen and graduated from Barneveld HS. It was in Barneveld where she met and married Eddie Collins in 1951. They raised 6 children, Karen (Harlan) Anderson, Karol (Ronnie) Thousand, Lee (Lori) Collins, Renee (Tim) Meyer, Rhonda Clerkin, and Kathleen (Paul) Murphy.

Lorene was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Barneveld.  Her faith was strong with a special love of the Rosary.

This matriarch was most proud of her family.  She would eagerly express that she had 15 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren.  She loved attending their events and especially cheering them on at their games!  They loved seeing Grandma/Grammy Collins in the stands, and they knew she would be bringing homemade treats to enjoy.  Lorene was famous for her homemade pies, cookies, and breads.  You could always count on something sweet on hand when you came to visit. They were made with love and family favorites during the holidays. 

Lorene listened to baseball on the radio when she was young, she loved the game, and the Chicago Cubs!  She shared that WGN was the only station that came in at that time, so she fell in love with “her Cubbies”!

Along with her children, Karen, Lee, Renee, Rhonda, and Kathleen, Lorene is survived by her brother Jerry (Arlene) Tollison, her grand and great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

Just as she was born at home to a family that loved her, Lorene also passed away at her home with family by her side.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Eddie, daughter Karol, sons-in-law, Ronnie and Harlan, great granddaughters, Eleanor Albrecht and Harley Anderson, sister Marilyn Zwettler, and brother Bobby Tollison.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH in Barneveld. Burial will be held in St. Barnabas Cemetery in Mazomanie. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers

 Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com