Obituary of John A. Collins

John A. Collins, age 79, of Camdenton, Missouri, passed away Saturday, August 15, 2009 at his residence in Camdenton. John was born on March 30, 1930 in Columbia, Missouri, a son to Glenn and Loraine (Nichols) Collins. John was united in marriage on April 25, 1951 in Columbia, Missouri to Maxine Moreau and together they had shared the past 58 years until his passing. Following graduation from Hickman High School in 1947, John went to work for General Telephone Company in Columbia. After brief assignments in Macon and Cameron, Missouri, he completed his career with General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) in Grinnell, Iowa as the Network Engineering and Construction Manager Outside Plant before relocating to Camdenton, Missouri in 1982. For 5 years, he served as a consultant and installation contractor for 2 national fiber-optic companies before retiring in 1987. John served in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion and a long standing member of the Elks Lodge in Grinnell, Iowa. When not busy with his, and other family members� household projects, property maintenance and landscaping, he enjoyed traveling with his wife Maxine to visit friends and family and playing various card games with all. He especially looked forward to visits from his nine grandchildren including Alissa, Christina, Lauren, Kristen, Samuel, Scott, Blaire, Jack, Jason and one great-grandchild, Alex, all of whom he loved dearly and whose lives he followed closely. John is survived by his wife Maxine of the home; three sons, David Collins and wife Nina of Little Rock, Arkansas, Bruce Collins and wife Jana of Overland Park, Kansas and John Collins and wife Patty of St. Louis, Missouri; four brothers, Gene Collins and wife Mary of Rayville, Missouri, Donnie Collins and wife Nancy of Centralia, Missouri, William Collins and wife Joyce of Naples, Florida and Mike Collins and wife Mindy of Ashland, Missouri; one sister, Mary Patton of Ashland, Missouri; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild, along with several other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ivan Collins.