Jennifer Collins, 57

Jennifer J. Collins, age 57, of Bryan, Ohio, was diagnosed with a rare form of inflammatory breast cancer in 2008. Jenny’s battle returned in February 2011 with her cancer spreading to her brain. Her strong will to live, faith in God, and love and prayers of family, friends and many supporters carried her through two more years. After complications from many treatments, Jenny peacefully died surrounded by her family at 6:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 12, 2013, at Genesis HealthCare in Bryan. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Genesis HealthCare and Community Health Professionals Hospice for the care they gave Jenny. She will be missed by all the people whose lives she touched, especially her family, her buddy, Gene Zehr, and all her close friends.

Jenny enjoyed being outdoors and would always help her husband with their business, Collins Tree Service. She found her true passion in 1999 when she was employed at the Bryan Parks & Recreation Department and became a certified City Arborist. She volunteered her time for six years with Cruisin’ for Critters car shows in Williams County to help raise money for the Humane Society and Sheriff’s K-9 units. She loved riding her Harley alongside her husband, Chuck. They were both members of the American Legion Riders West Unity Post, participated in many Relay for Life events, and attended church and many events at Life Changing Realities Fellowship church. A motorcycle was built in her honor when she survived a brain tumor in 2011. Her special bike’s theme was a Red Oak tree.

Born on September 25, 1956, in Muskegon, Michigan, Jenny was the daughter of Herman I. and Eleanor (Carroll) Jump. She was a 1974 graduate of Benton Harbor High School. Jenny met her forever love, Chuck Collins, in 1970 and they married in Benton Harbor on June 22, 1974, just recently celebrating their 39th anniversary.

Jenny’s survivors include her husband, Chuck Collins, of Bryan; children, Chad Collins, of Bryan, Crystal Collins, of Montpelier, and Cody Collins, of Montpelier; grandchildren, Nolan and Tanner; her mother, Eleanor Holt, of Fort Meyers, Florida; sisters, Chris (Nate) Golly, of Bend, Oregon, and Sandra Jump, of Defiance, Ohio. Preceding her in death were her father, Herman I. Jump, and her grandparents, Frank and Helen Carroll and Bert and Ada Jump.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 1, 2013, in Life Changing Realities Fellowship at 5:00 P.M. with Pastor Butch Rode officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Krill Funeral Service, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan.

In lieu of flowers, which are appreciated, the family would suggest memorial donations in Jenny’s name be directed to Cancer Assistance for Williams County or the Bryan Parks & Recreation Tree Fund.