ForeverMissed
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Her Life

By Keith Collins

October 6, 2019
A wonderful Wife, a great Mom, and fantastic Grandma, Dianne Rae Collins, passed away peacefully at Life Hospice, Tampa on August 7, 2019 at the age of 67 years.

She was born and raised in Manchester, Iowa, where she lived much of her youth and graduating from Manchester High School then onto attending Ellsworth College.

While in College Dianne met her future husband Keith Collins, a young US Marine just returning from Vietnam. They fell in love, married and spent 47 wonderful years together while raising a family…living and working around the globe.

Dianne was wonderfully devoted to her only child Nathanial (Jennifer),

She was a loving Grandmother to Abigail and Amelia, and an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews and loving caretaker for Sonny (Parrot) and (Lucy) Cat.

Dianne was the only daughter of predeceased parents Dale Cooper and Barbara (Cooper) Minert of Manchester, Iowa and is survived by her husband and son, and her brothers Timothy Cooper (Marcia) and Todd Cooper (Christine) and her uncles
Neil Cooper, (Shirley) Gene Cooper (Kay) Paul Cooper (Gail).and numerous cousins, and in-laws, relatives, friends and a large community extended family.

As a mother in her early years of marriage Dianne was busy, raising her son while accompanying her husband in his career worldwide living in Japan, Africa, England, Indonesia,South America, South America,Philippines, Midde East & Singapore.   

Dianne eventually developed a career in commercial printing.

She then spent 30 years in this field, finishing her career at OAI Tampa, Fl.

In her retirement, she was an active volunteer with numerous US Military Veteran organizations, local law enforcement organizations and nursing homes for Elderly.

Dianne was a music enthusiast and loved playing classical music on her grand piano. One of her favorite is this theme " Moonlight Sonata"....Beethoven.

She loved to collect fine art, carvings and antiques from around the world. She and her husband amassed one of the largest collections of fine Malachite in the USA.

She loved the outdoors, the forests and ocean, enjoyed boating, sightseeing, watching grandchildren play and grow and share special days of joy with them including holidays like Christmas and Birthdays. …Loved cooking for all.

Dianne in her life led by example. There was never a job too large or too small that she would not tackle. She was a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman. Dianne will be missed and loved so much every day by so many everywhere.

Special thanks to the wonderful doctors and nurses at Florida Cancer Specialists, Dr. Judy Wang, Dr. Alan Singer, Dr. Thomas Rutherford, Tampa General Cancer Center, Advent Hospital and to Lifepath Hospice who provided invaluable care for three years. Heartfelt love and thanks to those who visited Dianne in her last weeks of life.

Dianne, by her wishes was cremated and a private family memorial was held.

Please consider this memorial a celebration of Dianne's life as it is open to all who would like to comment, contribute memories and or photos. All are welcome and are encouraged to engage with us in this celebration.