Geneva "Jennie" Collin

Geneva (Jennie) Emma Mathilda (Stutheit) Collin was born on November 22, 1922 in Byron, Nebraska to Ernest H. and Gesena M. (Johnson) Stutheit. She lived with her family in Byron, where she was baptized, and Imperial, Nebraska, where she was confirmed and completed the 8th grade. She helped on the family farm in Imperial before moving to Talmage in 1940 and then to Auburn in 1945.

Geneva was united in marriage to Mark Collin on August 29, 1946 at Coryell Park. Three children were born to this marriage. They farmed in the Peru and Auburn area until they retired in 1984. Mark passed away on August 18, 1996. Jennie experienced failing health during the past two years and moved to the Good Samaritan Society in Syracuse in May 2015. It was there she passed away on December 19, with her family by her side, at the age of 94 years and 27 days. She was preceded in death by her husband Mark, parents Ernest and Gesena Stutheit, brothers Emery and Willis, and daughter-in-law Dawn Collin.

Jennie’s life was influenced by her experiences of living through the depression and dust bowl era. A very conservative and self-sufficient lady, she embraced the simple beauties of life and God’s world. Jennie was the typical farm wife, preparing meals for hired field workers, sewing clothes for her family and helping with farm chores, while raising her children. She worked several years outside the home at Hesteds in Auburn. Jennie was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was an avid gardener and prolific quilter. She enjoyed crafts, operating Jennie’s Crafts out of her home for many years.

Survivors include her children Dan and his wife Connie of Elkhorn; Rhonda Kurmel of Syracuse; Tim of Auburn; grandchildren Chad (Tammi) Kurmel, Staci Kurmel, Shannon (Brent) Dunkel, Luke (Katie) Collin, Garrett (Stacie) Collin, Tyler Collin; great-granddaughters Jensen and Abbey Kurmel, Reagan Dunkel; sisters-in-law Betty Stutheit of Nebraska City; Beverly Stutheit of Auburn; brother-in-law Merritt Jensen of Corvallis, OR; other relatives and friends.