John W. Collins, 85, beloved husband of Violet (nee Scorza), loving father of David Nicholas (Elizabeth), Rebecca Ruth McShea, Mark William, Paul Wesley (Jill), Peter Winston (Mindy) and the late Jonathan Albert (Sandy); loved grandfather of 19 and great grandfather of four; cherished brother of three siblings.

Visitation Tuesday, June 14, 2011 from 4 to 8 PM at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights and at church from 12:30 PM until time of Funeral service at 1 PM, Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church, 1330 N. Douglas Ave. Arlington Heights. Interment Ridgewood Cemetery.

If desired, memorials may be made to The Orchard Evangelical Free Church.

A Full and Good Life ~

John W. Collins, a cherished and devoted husband, a kind and wise father, and a valued counselor to many, died on Friday, June 10th 2011 in Skokie. He was 85.

John was born in Findlay, Ohio on March 16, 1926. He grew up in Chicago and at the age of 18, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in the Philippines during WW II. A proud member of the “Sweaten’ 7th” he was discharged in May 1946. Upon returning home, he enrolled at the University of Illinois – Chicago and married his childhood sweetheart, Violet P. Scorza on August 16, 1947. They met when John was 14 and Violet was 12 and as he has told his family countless times, it truly was love at first sight.

John felt a calling to prepare for the ministry and together, John and Violet enrolled at Central Bible College in Springfield, MO. Upon graduation, John did not feel that he was chosen to lead a church, but to serve in other ways. He therefore used his technical knowledge in the fledgling computer industry and joined Sunbeam Corporation in the data processing department. This was the beginning of a long and varied career that took him to many fine organizations such as Union Tank Car, Kraft Foods, and Beatrice Foods. Desiring to run his own business and satisfy his entrepreneur spirit, John started the Collins-Winston Group, a long lasting and successful executive search firm specializing in the IT industry.

While his career progressed and grew more complex, John stayed devoted to the most important part of his life, and that was his service to the Lord. After returning from college, John started as a devoted youth minister and song leader at Calvary Tabernacle in Chicago. Always teaching, growing in faith, and nurturing countless others, John was an active member of many churches on the North Shore. Since 2004, John was content to live his last years simply sitting in the third pew hearing the word of God spoken at The Orchard Evangelical Church in Arlington Heights.

In 1988 John was able to fulfill the ministry that he long ago prepared for by traveling to Africa to teach at a bible college in Kaimosi, Kenya. This life long dream was to be replayed again in 1990 and 1995. He was deeply moved by his time in Africa, and he often said that should the Lord take him home while there, he would want his body to be buried in African soil.

John and Violet were blessed with 6 children, 19 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He was most proud when his children would gather around for the holidays and have lively discussions on various topics. But whether the discussion was about bible interpretation, careers, or politics, the conversation would always and inevitably turn to food. Being blessed by marrying an Italian wife who loved to cook, it was always about the food. The entire family could dissect and analyze with great relish what was just eaten and what could be done the next time to make it even better. John would sit back and just smile at his rich blessing sitting around the table with him.

John loved the Lord and loved Violet more than his own life. His legacy is that of a man who lived a devout life, true to his convictions, and a shining example to his lineage of how to live a full and good life.

 

Glueckert Funeral Home

(847) 253-0168

1520 North Arlington Heights Road

Arlington Heights, IL 60004