Edward Robert Collins, Sr.

Edward Robert Collins, Sr. passed away November 25, 2016 in Petoskey, Michigan surrounded by his wife Margaret (Peggy) and their seven children. Born on December 18, 1932 in Dighton, Massachusetts, Ed is the eldest son of Edward Wilson and Helene Louise (Noonan) Collins. He grew up with his twin brothers Austin and David in Taunton, Massachusetts. At 17, Ed enlisted in the United States Army, serving 11 years before transferring to the Air Force in 1961. Over his 30 year career, he specialized in communication electronics focusing on education and training, rising to the highest Air Force enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant. His military career took him and his family all over the world including Frankfort, Germany, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Anchorage, Alaska; Biloxi, Mississippi; Tehran, Iran, and his last assignment at the Strategic Air Command radar station in Bayshore, Michigan. After retirement, he opened Ed’s Electrical Appliance Service in Petoskey, Michigan and spent the next 30 years repairing home, commercial, and construction equipment across Northern Michigan.

Ed devoted his life to serving his church and community. He was an active member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Petoskey, serving as Lector and Lay Eucharistic Minister since 1979. Ed was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and an active member of Kiwanis International, serving as the Petoskey chapter president from 1981 – 82. He also led Boy Scout troops in Mississippi, Iran, and Michigan and served as Petoskey’s District Representative to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. He was awarded the St. George’s Emblem for significant and outstanding contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth in Scouting.

Ed married Peggy Horan, the love of his life in 1955 at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Oyster Bay, New York. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Margaret, his children--Edward Collins (Anne), Francis Collins (Shirley), James Collins (Ave Maria), Mary D'Agostino (Mark), Anne Bolger, John Collins, Margaret Eker (Ibrahim), as well as 15 grandchildren, Karen, Samuel, Bryan, Melissa, Brendan, Dominic, Madeleine, Helen, Anna, Elizabeth, Casey, Jessica, Spencer, Kemal, and Aylin, and three great-grandchildren Isaak, Adeline, and Isla.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Funeral Service at St. Francis Church in Petoskey on Wednesday, November 30 at 10:30 AM. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, November 29 from 6 to 8 PM at Stone Funeral Home 2098 E. Mitchell Road Petoskey, MI 49770. CMSgt (ret) Collins will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Spring 2017. Memorial donations in memory of Ed can be made to Brother Dan’s Food Pantry or the St. Francis Tuition Angel Fund.

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