Elaine Collins

Elaine D. Collins November 24, 1929 - February 1, 2021 Elaine DeVota (Uhl) Collins, died peacefully in her home on Monday, February 1, 2021, surrounded by her daughters. She was the daughter of Clifford and Mercedes (Reinbold) Uhl, and was born on November 24, 1929. Elaine grew up in the Mapleton, Iowa, area and attended country school with many of her cousins. As a young woman, Elaine worked as a bookkeeper for several businesses in town. On September 3, 1951, she was united in marriage to Eugene Paul Collins of Danbury, Iowa, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton. They began their married life and farmed in the rural Danbury area, started a family, and were blessed with six daughters and welcomed their sons as each daughter married. In 1974 the family purchased an acreage south of Mapleton, where they built a successful used tractor parts and repair business. C&S Equipment was owned and operated by Gene, Elaine, and son-in-law, Larry Schoenfeld. Elaine was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister and found great joy in taking communion to shut-ins for 20 years. She represented St. Mary's Guild at Maple Heights Nursing Home Auxiliary. Elaine had many talents that included sewing, crocheting, and baking. She will be most remembered for baking and decorating cakes for family and friends. Family were often treated to the gift of her homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies during visits to her home. Elaine was known and loved as "Grandma Lanie" to not only family, but friends as well. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and treasured time spent with all of her family. The greatest gift of all was her unconditional/unending love, and she always signed cards with "Lotza Special Love". Those left to cherish her memory include five daughters and their families, Deb Schoenfeld of Mapleton, IA, Gayla (Jack) Hargens of Denison, IA, Lauri (Duane) Hummelgard of Battle Creek, IA, Jackie (Randy) Gosch of Mapleton, IA and Geri (Jerome) Wasinger of Stillwater, MN; 22 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren; sisters LaVonne (Ray) Friedrichsen of Mapleton, IA and Sherry (Dick) Juelfs of Holstein, IA; sisters-in-law Mary Uhl of Mapleton, IA, Lisa Uhl of Douglaston, NY and Dottie Uhl of Valencia, CA; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and a host of friends. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; husband Eugene "Gene" Collins; daughter Denice Kay; grandchildren Heather Jean Hargens and Michael Dean Gosch; brothers Robert Uhl, Alan Uhl, Kenneth Uhl and Clifford Uhl, Jr; sisters Joan Glassel and Colleen Tjaden; and son-in-law Larry Schoenfeld.