Clifford Collins

Cliff Collins, 69, of St. Charles died Monday, March 12, 2018 at the Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 15, at Ochiltree Funeral Service, with family present to receive friends during this time. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 16, at the Sayre Cemetery in Madison County with a luncheon to follow at the Calvary Baptist Church in St. Charles. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation and online condolences can be left at ochiltree.com. Clifford Ivan Collins II, son of Clifford “Ham” and Louise (McCartt) Collins, was born January 6, 1949, in Clark County, Iowa. He graduated from I-35 High School in 1967 and continued his education at Grandview College. Clifford Collins and Cathie Parker were high school sweethearts and were united in marriage on July 5, 1969, in Truro, Iowa. Cliff worked for the United States Postal Service for over 34 years in various locations in the Des Moines Metro Area. When he was younger, he helped operate a ten-acre apple orchard with a single-acre strawberry patch. Cliff had a green thumb and loved spending time in his garden and sharing his produce with friends and family. He was also a hobby farmer, raising horses and cattle. He loved being outdoors and built a cabin on his land to enjoy with his family. Cliff had a passion for family history and enjoyed learning about his ancestors. He liked his jokes and pranks and many would describe Cliff as a “Character”. Above all else, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who cherished the time spent with the ones he loved. Cliff is survived by three children, Clifford (Greenlee) Collins Seacrest of Washington State; Casey Collins of West Des Moines; Callie (Brian) Waller of West Des Moines; nine grandchildren, Skye, Tate, Jewel, Maverick, Coyote and Magnus SeaCrest; Parker and Asher Waller; sister, Patsy Lathrum of St. Charles; brother, Jack (Carolyn) Foreman of Oklahoma City, OK; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ham and Louise Collins; wife, Cathie Collins in 2009; siblings, Ralph, Robert and Mart.