Darwin Oaks

Darwin “Pete” Oaks, 76, of Collins, Iowa, passed away on November 25, 2022 at the Taylor House Hospice Home in Des Moines, Iowa.

A celebration of life for Darwin will be held on Friday, December 2, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials in Darwin’s name may be directed to the American Cancer Society. For additional information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Darwin Vance Oaks was born April 2, 1946 to parents Floyd and Marjorie (Johannsen) Oaks in Marshalltown, Iowa.

He grew up and attended school in Gladbrook, Iowa and later graduated from Gladbrook High School in the class of 1965.

On February 13, 1966, Darwin was united in marriage to the love of his life Patricia Olson in Jefferson, Iowa. Together they made a home for themselves and began a family raising their three children Tammy, Timothy, and Kimberly. They would eventually call Collins their forever home. Darwin worked for many years as a truck driver and in construction for a period of time but he loved his job as the Public Works Director for Collins for the 15 years he did. He was honored to serve the town of Collins on their Volunteer Fire Department.

In his free time, Darwin enjoyed the hobbies of carpentry and woodworking. He enjoyed going bow hunting, taking rides on his Honda Goldwing motorcycle with his son and grandson and taking many trips to Yellowstone National Park. The most important thing that Darwin loved was his family.

Darwin is survived by his wife of 56 years Patricia Oaks; his children Tammy (Mark) Beran and Kimberly (Bill) Rehm; his grandchildren, Jacob (Jenny) Oaks, Rebecca (John Guss) Rehm and Dustin (Ali) Oaks; his great-grandchildren Owen and Lillie Oaks; siblings, Noland (Karen) Oaks and Bryan (Kim) Oaks; alongside numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son Timothy Oaks; his parents Floyd and Marjorie Oaks; and his mother and father -in-law Philip and Virgie Olson and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.