Obituary of John Howard Collins
John Howard Collins was born on September 22, 1964, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the son of Janet Konwinski. John attended Riverview High School in Riverview, Michigan. John was extremely intelligent and athletic, being a member of the National Honor Society and lettering in Varsity wrestling. He graduated with honors in the class of 1982. Following high school John enrolled in classes at Henry Ford Community College and Wayne State University.
John worked more than sixteen years as a chemist for the Wacker Chemical Corporation before taking a medical retirement in 2017.
John and his brother loved to hunt and fish. The pair spent many weekends in the thumb area of Michigan waiting for the perfect buck to come into their sights. They also didn’t care where they cast their line as long as the fish were biting, but the duo enjoyed trolling for walleye in the Saginaw Bay and fishing in the Manistee River. John also had a love for swimming, and he spent most of his last summer in the water. He loved nature and often sat outside watching and feeding the birds even in the winter. He was especially fond of watching the Hummingbirds. He was an animal lover and loved his black cat named “Night Fury” from the movie “How to train your dragon”.
John was very sweet, and a kind-natured person. He was well-respected by his players while coaching AAU Basketball and softball in Dundee. His true love in this life, however, was his family, especially his grandchildren who called him “Grampy”. Just the simple mention of one of their names put a sparkle in John’s eyes as he lit up with pure joy.
John Howard Collins, age 58, of Dundee passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday; June 19, 2023. His passing was preceded by his maternal and paternal grandparents and a stepbrother: Kevin Konwinski.
To cherish John’s memory, he leaves two daughters: Laura (Khalil) Mroue of Tucson, Arizona and Sarah (Matthew) Stump of Newport, Michigan; his former wife of twenty-six years: Shannon Collins; his mother: Janet Konwinski; Tom Konwinski; a brother: Eric (Samantha) Collins of Cass City, Michigan; step-brother: Paul (Carla) Konwinski; and two grandchildren: Logan Billau of Newport, Michigan and Leila Mroue of Tucson, Arizona.
No public services are planned at this time. John’s care has been entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162 (734) 384-5185. Cremation has taken place through the on-site crematory, Covenant Cremation of Erie, Michigan.
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