JoAnn Collins

JoAnn was a 4th generation Colorado native, born in Denver on July 18th, 1956 to Betty (Reib) and Joseph Brennan. She was raised in Denver alongside her brother, John and sister, Peggy, and graduated Denver Public Schools.

When she was 19 years old, she met the only man she ever loved, Charles “Chuck” Collins. It was the age of “3.2” beer when younger adults were allowed to hang out in the bars. Chuck happened to be in one of those 3.2 bars with another gal the night he met JoAnn. That girl didn’t care to dance, and JoAnn did. They were married less than a year later.

JoAnn and Chuck share a love that was true. They started a family and JoAnn was able to stay at home to raise their three children, Becky, Suzy, and Bryson. Her family was her world. She loved taking care of her children and taking care of the family home. Her heart was truly full and she learned a new kind of joy when she became a grandmother. Oh, how she loved her grandkids. She made sure her children were always taken care of and didn’t go to work until they were all in school, so that she was one taking care of them. When the children do go off to school, JoAnn embarked on a new career in banking which spanned more than 30 years.

JoAnn was a wonderful wife and mother. She was also just a good person. She was friendly and neighborly. Everyone loved her. Though she took incredible pride in her home, she lived modestly and remained humble. She was private, but social, always meeting the needs of others and meeting people where they were at. She was patient and would never judge. JoAnn was kind and giving of her time. She enjoyed her family, having regular visits with her mom and dad and staying in close touch with her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

JoAnn LOVED to read. She would read a book a week, sending Chuck on an errand to get her the latest title. She enjoyed working in her garden; especially the time spent harvesting veggies with the grandkids. She loved flowers and she loved feeding the birds. JoAnn and Chuck spent a great deal of quiet time together at her Happy Place, the family cabin in Glen Echo, Colorado. Chuck would spend time fishing, and JoAnn would advise from the shore. She always had plenty of feed for the birdfeeders, and never minded when the bears would help themselves.

JoAnn was a vibrant soul. She truly appreciated the beauty of the world around her. She was full of life and laughter. She will be dearly missed by all who were blessed enough to know her.

JoAnn leaves a legacy of love and family that survives in the hearts and memories of her loving husband of more than 47 years, Charles Collins; children, Rebecca Edmonds, Suzanne Stewart, and Bryson Collins; and her grandchildren, Jackson, Jillian, Joseph, & Jesse Edmonds, Isabelle & Jonah Stewart, and Sophia Collins. She is also missed by her brother, John Brennan and her sister, Peggy Purcell as well as other extended family and many dear friends. She is welcomed in Heaven by her mother, Betty and her father, Joseph Brennan.

A Celebration of JoAnn's Life will be held on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024 at 1pm at Resthaven Funeral Home & Memory Gardens in Fort Collins. She will be placed to eternal rest at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in JoAnn's memory to Pathways Hospice of Fort Collins, in gratitude of the loving care they provided to JoAnn and to her family.

Treasured memories of JoAnn and words of kindness for her family are welcome at resthavencolorado.com.