Jennifer Sigrid (Heikes) Collins, 77, of Cloquet, passed away on November 21, 2025. She was born on January 8, 1948, in Adrian, Minnesota, and was raised on her family's farm in Ellsworth, where she learned the value of hard work, resilience, and love for family. She graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1966, earned a degree in psychology from St. Olaf College in 1970, and later completed a master's degree in management at the College of St. Scholastica in 1994.

Jennifer devoted more than 37 years to the State of Minnesota. She began her career in 1970 as a psychology technician at the Moose Lake Regional Treatment Center and went on to serve in and lead several chemical dependency programs, retiring in 2008. Helping others was not simply a career for her, it was a calling that shaped her life.

Her impact reached far beyond the people she served directly. Jennifer was a steady and trusted presence to the colleagues who worked alongside her and the many she mentored over the years. She led with patience, honesty, and compassion, and countless people credit her with influencing not only how they worked, but how they showed up in their daily lives.

To her family, Jennifer was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was loyal, constant, and always showed up when she was needed. Her grandchildren Carter, Ava, Danika, Jack, Ramsey, Eli, Hank, and Gus were the true light of her life.

Jennifer also built deep and lasting friendships. She enjoyed her time at coffee groups and other gatherings, and she truly valued the people she shared her days with. She had a lifelong love of Elvis and always enjoyed pointing out that they shared the same birthday.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 1997; her son, David, in 1997; and her parents, George, who passed in 2006, and Rosalie, who passed in 2008.

She is survived by her sons, Brian (Jennifer) of Moose Lake and Justin (Stephanie) of Stillwater, as well as her siblings Lambert of the Philippines, Cynette (Jerry) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Janet (Steve) of Palatine, Illinois, and Carl (Leslie) of Ellsworth, Minnesota.

Family and friends will gather to honor Jennifer's life on November 29, 2025, at Hamlin Hansen Kosloski Funeral Home in Moose Lake, with visitation from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. and a short service to follow.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the compassionate staff at Essentia Medical Center in Duluth, Evergreen Senior Living, and St. Croix Hospice for the care and kindness shown to Jennifer and her family.

She will be deeply missed.