Richard E. Collins II, M.D., passed away peacefully on May 2, 2025, in Stromsburg, Nebraska after a 2.5-year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Dr. Rick Collins, nationally recognized as "The Cooking Cardiologist," was a loving husband, father, uncle, and grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family.

 He is survived by his wife, Donna Nelson Collins of Stromsburg, NE, and their three daughters: Heather Collins of Denver, CO; Kelly Buchanan (John) of Wellesley, MA; and Robyn Berg (Paul) of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Rick was known as "Poppy" to his four cherished grandchildren, Piper and Tatum Buchanan and Cooper and Greyson Berg. 

Rick was a natural-born visionary with a charming approach and an unwavering commitment to helping others through medicine and touched the lives of everyone he knew.

 In 1961, he graduated from North High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Rick attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he received his Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering. Rick then served for 2.5 years in the U.S. Navy at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland and 1.5 years as a physician to the United States Congress in Washington, D.C.

 Dr. Collins received his medical residency training in Internal Medicine and Cardiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. In 1978, he started his medical practice in Omaha at Immanuel Hospital, where he served as the Director of Cardiology for more than 25 years.

 In the 1990s, Dr. Collins assisted with launching the Dean Ornish Heart Disease Reversal Program at Omaha's Alegent Health. In this capacity, his ingenious approach to medicine took flight, and he helped patients reduce heart disease one recipe at a time. As an acclaimed cookbook author, Dr. Collins said, "Don't give up what you like to eat…just change the recipe!"

In 2003, Rick and Donna moved from Omaha, NE to Littleton, CO, where he was South Denver Heart Center's Director of Heart Disease, Prevention, and Wellness. In March 2017, Dr. Collins retired from medicine, and he and Donna moved back to Nebraska.

 Rick was born on December 3, 1943, in Omaha and was preceded in death by his parents, Richard "Dick" and Mariann Collins, and sisters, Judy Matthews and JoAnn Leuck.

 Celebration of Life Service: Tuesday, May 6, 10:30 a.m., at Stromsburg Baptist Church, 515 Exchange Street, with Pastor David Owens and Pastor Mike Brill officiating. Pianist will be Roni Branting. Musical selections will be "Be Present At Our Table, Lord", "Amazing Grace", "You Raised Me Up", and "Let It Be." Private family inurnment in the Stromsburg Cemetery with Military Rites by Stromsburg American Legion. To view a live broadcast of the Service, visit youtube.com and enter Stromsburg Baptist Church in the search bar.

 In lieu of flowers and to honor Dr. Collins, memorials can be sent to the Collins Family Scholarship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center or ALS in the Heartland.

Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg and Osceola has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com