Sept. 30, 1936 ~ Nov. 29, 2024
DC loved her communities and was constantly giving back to both.
She taught in both Simla and Meeker; PE teacher, Colorado History, health, a counselor, librarian, she coached volleyball, track, and basketball. Her love for the gym started at a young age. She played against the boys and laughed when she beat them. In high school she was able to play on her basketball team at Alta Vista where she was the tournament MVP her senior year.
As a teacher in Simla she pioneered and coached the new women’s basketball team. She advocated for girls to get letterman’s jackets. She was a teacher for 35 years. The students DC affected are countless and she is the main character in many middle school stories.
DC was ornery. She said things with a grin and there was a good chance she was going to tease you. She loved people and wanted to take care of everyone.
After she retired she became a 4-H leader. Donna entered something in the fair every year for 78 years. She instilled that joy for fair in her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and many more in the community. She canned tomatoes, quilted, sewed skirts, crocheted, and much more. It was always a competition to see who could get the most purple ribbons or the yellow Best of Show.
Competition was not only for the gym or the fair. She passed cards between her toes to her best friend Janice under the table to beat Joe and George. It was a race on Easter Sunday to see who could get their kite the highest the fastest. She, of course, beat all guys in the family target .22 shoot-off. They never heard the end of it.
Donna is survived by two daughters: Lisa (Buddy) Pakuer, Lori (Mike) Chintala; one son: Lex Collins; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Joe Collins.
DC always said, “Have some fun.”
