Joan Mary Collar

Joan Mary Collar, 80, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 19, 2026. She was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 4, 1946, to the late Chester and Lois Kaminecki.

Joan was a graduate of Preble High School. She worked at Diana Manufacturing, where she met Lee Collar, and they married on June 6, 1970. Joan was a talented seamstress and worked for various stores throughout Green Bay doing alterations and working with fabrics. She also served as the morning supervisor at Hardee’s in De Pere and mentored many high school students over the years, including her two boys. They couldn’t call her “Mom” at work, so she has been “Joanie” ever since!

Joan loved to sew and made many projects over the years. She was known to read a book in a day. She was a collector of lighthouses and cardinals. Joan loved tending to her beautiful flowers, and enjoyed giving everyone that stopped over a tour of her flower beds. Joan and Lee enjoyed spending time together at the cottage, and in their later years at the camper. Even though she was quiet by nature, she had a wild side and often talked about her motorcycle and Plymouth Sport Fury that she had when she was first out of high school. You could stop over anytime and hear her favorite rock music playing, especially Elvis, the Dave Clark Five, Bruce Springsteen, and Sammy Hagar! She had many dogs and cats over the years and even named her cat Bruce!

Joan is survived by her husband of 56 years, Lee Collar. She is also survived by her sons, Matt (Kristin) Collar and Todd (Becky) Collar; her grandchildren, Jay (special friend Cynthia Delgadillo), Ryan, Camren Collar, and Kayla (Austin) Crossman; and her great-grandchildren, Raelyn and Hayden Crossman. She is further survived by her sisters, Luann (Pat) Davis and Laurie (Ron Nordstrom) Brodhagen; her uncle and aunt, Wayne (Barbara) Hintz; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joel “Bucko” (Cheryl) Collar and Frank Kox; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Lee Kaminecki; her aunts and uncles, Kenny and Jean Schneider, Leonard Kaminecki, Raymond (Dorothy) Kaminecki, and Genevieve (Vernon) Stange; and her in-laws, Mark Brodhagen, Morris (Zudora) Collar, Jim Collar, Curt Collar, Gladys (Milt) VandenHeuvel, Bill Collar, Dick (Sharon) Collar, Sandy Collar, Jean (Joe) Jubert, and Connie Kox.

Private services will be held per Joan’s wishes.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to Unity Hospice and Grancare Nursing Center for their care.