116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
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Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Karen Louise Collins
City: Cedar Rapids
Funeral Home
Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Karen Louise Collins
Karen Louise Collins
Cedar Rapids
Karen Louise Collins passed away peacefully on November 6, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on September 29, 1957, in Springfield, Illinois, Karen’s life was shaped by creativity and a deep and generous love for children as a mother, grandmother, and elementary school teacher.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories.
Karen is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jeffery C. Collins; her children, Danielle Collins (David Matalon) and Brent Collins (Kati Collins); and her cherished grandchildren, Oliver and Marigold Matalon. She is also survived by her father, Leonard Lambert, and her sisters, Susan Connors and Alice Eger. She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Lambert.
Karen leaves behind a legacy of joy, imagination, and unwavering love. She made the ordinary beautiful, the difficult bearable, and the small moments unforgettable. Those who knew her – students, friends, family, and especially her grandchildren – carry her light forward.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Karen Collins Winter Wear Fund.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.

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