Toinette Diane Collins

Toinette Diane Collins, age 70 of Salem, Indiana, formerly of Wolf Lake, MN, peacefully entered eternity on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Salem. Toinette was born on June 28, 1946 in Detroit Lakes, MN to George and Toini (Myllykangas) Koski.  She grew up on a farm near Wolf Lake where she attended the country school north of Wolf Lake through the 6th grade and then went on to attend Jr. High School and High School in Menahga, MN, where she graduated with the class of 1964.  As a young woman, Toinette ventured to Minneapolis where she gained employment.  Later, she travelled to Chicago and found employment there.  On August 15, 1970, Toinette was united in marriage to William B. “Bill” Collins in Chicago.  This union was fulfilled with one daughter, Lisa.  When her daughter was small, Toinette devoted herself to making a loving home for her husband and daughter.  In her spare time, she loved to work on jigsaw puzzles,  attend country music concerts with her daughter and faithfully followed her beloved Chicago Cubs.  Later in life, she enjoyed playing bingo at the Salem Senior Citizens Center.  Toinette loved animals and had several pets: her dog, Pepper, her cat Megan and several outside cats.  On September 5, 2015 she endured the heartbreak of losing her precious husband, William.  Since the time of Bill’s death, Toinette has experienced failing health herself and had spent six weeks in the Meadow View Health and Rehabilitation Center prior to her death. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Lisa Collins of Plainfield, Ind.; and her sister, Mae Rankin of Stillwater, OK; as well as other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers: Richard Koski in infancy and Roger Koski at age two; one sister, Edna Koski and her husband, William Collins.