Barbara (Beechner) Collins  
Barbara Ann (Beechner) Collins
Married for 17 years to Richard J. Collins, a teacher and coach.
Four Children: Susan Ziegenbein Flint, 45, Rogers, Arkansas;
Laurie Ziegenbein Brosnan, 43, Andover, Massachusetts;
Charles Ziegenbein, 40, Andover, Massachusetts;
Cathy Ziegenbein Kea, 36, Southborough, Massachusetts;
Dick has five children: Richard Collins, 47, Simsbury, Connecticut;
Carolyn Collins Hemingway, 48, Tamworth, New Hampshire;
Edward Collins, 45, Bedford, Massachusetts;
Valerie Collins Simeone, 43, Henniker, New Hampshire;
Jackie Collins Dufresne, 40, Peabody, Massachusetts;
She has 11 grandchildren,Dick has 10, for a total of 21 grandchildren.
Her first husband, Charles Ziegenbein, was from Wisner, Nebraska. He graduated from The University of Nebraska where he was a pitcher on the baseball team. He also played for the New York Yankee farm team in Fargo, North Dakota. He passed away in 1972.
WORK: "From the time I was thirteen, I worked at Capitol Beach for my Dad. During high school I worked at Magee's wrapping Christmas presents and putting clothes away. After I got married, I was a substitute teacher for the Lincoln School system. We moved from Lincoln to Midland Park, New Jersey and then to Andover, Massachusetts. Up until 1977, I was a wife and mother. When my youngest daughter started kindergarten I went to work as an instructional assistant in the Andover School System. I worked in the Junior High school, the middle school in the library. Then I moved on to West Elementary School where I worked in the library. Two years ago I started working with the all day kindergarten class of 20 five-and-six-year-olds. I also work part-time in the library. Through the years I've taught Sunday school, been an officer in the Andover Little League, and the Andover Parents Football Boosters Organization. I am a member of Chapter AB PEO where I have held offices. I do not know when I will retire. I enjoy doing what I do for 35 hours a week and it gets me out with others. I am not ready to stay at home all day yet.
I've done needlepoint, and I like to garden and read. I get the most enjoyment out of being with my family and grandchildren. My biggest challenge was raising my four wonderful children alone for 16 years. They have all done very well and have wonderful husbands and families. One of the best things in my family's life is that we will be celebrating my mother's 100th birthday in November. She is a wonderful inspiration to us all, still living in our family home and driving her car. She is the most positive person I know."
REFLECTIONS: "I'm a lot older and wiser. Life in the 50's was much less complicated. It seems like we didn't have the worries we have now. Life was much simpler."