Ilse Maria Collins "Oma"

Ilse “Oma” Maria Collins went home to be with the Lord peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Anyone who had the honor and privilege of meeting Oma, was instantly taken aback by her unique and beautiful spirit. She had a zest for life at every age, and it was infectious. It was so easy to fall in love with her. She was born in war-torn Poland on October 3, 1943. Merely an infant, she and her mother fled to Berlin, Germany where she would spend the remainder of her youth. She encountered love at first sight when she was set up on a blind date with an American soldier, William “Bill” David Collins. They married in 1963 and moved to the United States where they would raise their three children. Oma was a proud and dedicated mother, wife, sister, and grandmother. She was known to spend hours cooking up famous, delicious German meals for all her friends and family. Her creativity was unmatched when she crafted, sewed, and crocheted leaving recipients of handmade gifts awestruck. Oma, also a 43-year survivor of breast cancer, touched many lives with her enthusiasm and passion for life.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children David Collins, Mary Collins-Tovar (Ray), and Janet Collins-Barton (Anthony); grandchildren Whitnie Knutson (Bruce), Kasie Barton (Scott), Brandi Hall (Cody), Ilissa Garcia, Lexi Barton, and Jessica Garcia; sister Ingrid Elßel (Reinhard); and nieces Sabrina Elßel (Dennis) and Laura Oettel (Mike).

Please join us for an informal ‘open-house’ gathering to honor, remember, and comfort one another for the passing of Ilse “Oma” Collins on the day of Sunday, April 10th, 2022 anytime from 2:00-5:00pm at 12842 Ozona Ranch, San Antonio, TX 78245.