Stana Joy Collins

Stana Joy Collins joined our Lord on December 26, 2025, in the early morning hours as a result of pneumonia, on terms she and Jesus apparently agreed to without consulting her daughter. Joy was born in Great Bend and raised in Lamar, Colorado, in the family oil company. After high school, she moved to the family ranch outside Portis, Kansas, and in 1975 she married John Collins. In 1980, the couple purchased the family home in Hays, Kansas, where they raised their daughter together.

Joy carried the experience of multiple successful lifetimes into a single journey: successful day trader, farmer, cancer survivor, caregiver, family accountant, feed truck driver, hygienist, medical billing, Ag Sales, rodeo queen, and loved matriarch. As a wife, mother, and nana, Joy gave more than 100% of herself, keeping a beautiful home, taking impeccable care of her vehicles, facilitating family travel to visit her husband wherever the Pipeline might lead him, and going to great lengths to give her family excellent opportunities. In 2006, Joy and John relocated to Augusta, Kansas, to help with the grandchildren. From spelling help to investing in calves and then teaching them to show, she was always rooting for her grandchildren. Her attention to detail, excellent performance, and high expectations helped build character and drive in all of us who love her.

Her smile and personality were a source of joy, support, and thoughtful insight for friends and family alike. She did not pull any punches and made sure you were well informed about any decision you needed to make, if you asked for her assistance, and maybe even if you didn't.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Stan and Wilma Lingreen, her little sister and trading partner, Karen Hancock, and her older brother and mechanical guru, Steve Lingreen. As she rides Poco, her palomino in the pastures in the sky, she leaves the following family to carry out her legacy of love, learning and stewardship: husband John Collins; daughter, Stana Koell Collins; grand children, John Michael Arnold, Piper Arnold; great grandson, Kobi Arnold; brother, Michael (Diane) Lingreen; along with nephews, great nieces and many, many friends.

Joy did not want any services, but as a lifelong follower of Christ, she would love for memorials to go to her church home, Three Wooden Crosses in Augusta, KS, for the Rodeo Bible & Ranch Kids Camps.