Michael Wilfred Collins

Michael W. Collins, 86, died Friday, June 13, 2008. He was born to Leo and Rose (Magrath) Collins on September 15, 1921, the fifth of nine children. He lived in the Emerald Community south of Williamsburg all his life except for the three years he spent in the United States Army. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1939. He entered the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II. From Utah Beach in Normandy to Central Europe, he took part in five major military campaigns. After Germany surrendered, he was sent to the Philippine Islands where he remained until the Japanese surrender. He was honorably discharged in 1945. He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick`s Emerald Catholic Church in rural Anderson County where he served on numerous committees and was a long time lector. Mike was a farmer and Rural Mail Carrier for Pomona/Williamsburg routes for twenty-three years. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 6397 of Garnett; American Legion Post 0119 of Waverly; Rural Letter Association; and Farm Bureau. He served on the board during the formation of Rural Water District No. 4 in Franklin County. Mike married Mary Ann Peine of Richmond, Kansas on February 28, 1949, in St. Theresa`s Catholic Church in Richmond, Kansas. They celebrated fifty-nine years of marriage, living in the same home all their years together. Also surviving are two sons and their spouses: Ron and Eunice Collins of Olathe, Kansas, Gary and Linda Collins of Claytonia, Nebraska; daughter and spouse, Catherine and Rod Bennett of Olathe, Kansas; his nine grandchildren, their spouses and children: John Collins, Matt Collins, Chris and Alyson Collins, Michelle and Rick Geddes & Laura and Quinton, Amanda and Josh Brokaw, Paul Bennett, Adam Bennett, Colin Bennett, Anne Bennett; and numerous nieces and nephews. Also surviving are one brother, Paul Collins of Greeley, Kansas, and one sister, Theresa Gerrish of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers: Edward, Francis, Lawrence, Charles L., Patrick; and one sister, Rose Catherine. Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Collins at the Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa after 1:00 p.m. Sunday, where a Rosary will be said at 6:30 Sunday evening, followed by a family visitation from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick`s Emerald Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 16, 2008, with burial at St. Patrick`s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to St. Patrick`s Catholic Church Renovation Fund or Midland Hospice, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.