Anita Collins

Anita Collins, born Aukje Kuperus on June 3, 1935 in Wijnjeterp, Friesland, died on Friday, May 8 at the age of 79. Anita grew up on a farm in Friesland. On March 28, 1953 she immigrated to Sussex, NJ with her parents and nine of her eleven siblings. In September 1958 Anita enrolled in Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA and graduated with an elementary teaching degree and later earned her master’s degree. She had a stellar teaching career starting out in Sioux Center, North Haledon, Wyckoff, and retired from a school in Pearl River, New York. She was a master teacher. On December 22, 1973 Anita married Robert (Bob) Collins and settled in Oakland, NJ. Bob brought a new dimension to Anita’s life. Together they traveled many places frequently by deluxe motor home. Bob also taught Anita how to dance. In 1994 they became proud grandparents. Anita was one of a kind. She was creative in her quilting and handiwork and often shared her masterpieces to comfort and encourage those who were struggling. She was known to welcome people into her home and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining. Anita loved her husband, siblings, and family with all of her very deep heart. She battled cancer and other health problems as she got older with fierce strength, perseverance, and determination but always intermingled with grace. She was passionate about her faith, family, and friendships, and we are all better because of her presence in our lives. Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Klaas and Aafke (Talma) Kuperus and her sister Simmie Perri, brothers-in-law Henry Prinzen, Louis Tolman, and Ben Perri. Left to cherish her memory are her husband Robert, her step-children: Robert and Val Collins, Jeff and Mary Zaremba, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren; siblings: Trina Tolman, Florence Prinzen, John and Annette Kuperus, Wilma and Adrian Vanden Akker, Peter and Shirley Kuperus, Janet and Peter Borgdorff, Henny and Casey Sytsema, Jaltina and Rick Kehr, Dorothy Kuperus, Myles and Glennys Kuperus; siblings-in-law: Catherine and Robert McDowell, Lillian and George Ankelein, Joe and Dot Collins, Ginny Collins, Selma Collins; many loved nieces and nephews, some of whom preceded her in death. There will be a time for visitation at the Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home (4145 Chicago Dr. SW, Grandville) on Monday, May 11 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Reformed Church of Byron Center, 2450 85th Street SW, Byron Center, on Tuesday, May 12 at 11 am with a time of visitation from 10-10:45 before the service. The committal service after the lunch will be for immediate family only. In honor of Anita’s memory, donations can be made to the Collins Endowment Fund for cancer research at Michigan State University.