Obituary for Michael Dennis Collins Mike Collins passed over peacefully at Alden Estates in Barrington after a long well fought battle with cancer. He was born in Cary to Alvan and Evelyn Collins and lived most of his life in the town he loved so much. He is survived by his beloved, Mary Ann Frazer, and by his three sons, Tim (Motoko) Collins of Cary and their daughters Halie and Kelsey, Dr. Kevin (Margaret) Collins and their twin sons Jack and Christian of Green Bay, and Brian (Wendy) Collins and their daughters Olivia and Alexa, as well as two step grandsons Tyler and Chase Filkins of Lake in the Hills.
He is also survived by his step children Matthew (Jackie Daza) Frazer and their son Matthew Gaspar Frazer of Merida Mexico and his step daughter Sarah (Jarek Piskor) and their children Anya, Asher and Aven Quin Piskor of Oakwood Hills. He will be missed by his first cousins, Tom and Bonnie Hagerty, David and Barbara Cox, Joyce Walker, and his cherished cousin, Jill Crandall of Chicago, who is, in every sense, his beloved little sister. Mike leaves behind a niece, Colleen Baurelein of Southern California and a nephew, Quinn Collins of Los Angeles.
Although not related by blood, two other people have been there for Mike on a daily basis: Joe Schmidt who was like another son and his family, and neighbor “Grandson” Ben Funderburg and his family. Besides his parents, Mike was preceded in death by his brother Patrick (Beth) Collins of Villa Park, California, and his cousin Jack Collins who was killed in Vietnam. Second only to his family and friends, everyone who knew Mike also knew that his great passion was baseball.
He was probably the only person in Kindergarten who got suspended for hitting a ball through the open doors of St. Peter and Paul church straight up to the altar. He played all through grade and high school and then for a minor league in Cocoa Beach, Florida. When he served in the military, he was blessed to play baseball for Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas during the Vietnam War.
When his sons were young, he enjoyed coaching them on various little league and junior teams and after he retired, he relished playing for softball teams in Palm Harbor and Clearwater in Florida and the Huntley-Schaumburg teams in Illinois. When Mike could no longer play ball, these teammates kept in touch and were a great of comfort, support and camaraderie. Mike loved life.
His many, many years of being a realtor for century 21 in Cary was more pleasure than work. He loved chatting with everyone and he valued his lifelong friendships with his colleagues. He was also proud of his years of service as a treasurer to the Cary Historical Society and his dedication to Am Vets, post 245 in Cary.
He loved all things outdoors: golf, tennis, rafting on the Colorado, pontooning on the Chain of Lakes in Illinois, and fishing in Canada and at Lake Owen in Wisconsin. Mostly, he enjoyed entertaining his family and friends on his patio and deck or in his cherished Gazebo. Mike did not “go gently into that good night but raged against the dying of the light”.
Given a 2-year cancer prognosis in 2006, he lived life fully and happily for twelve years. If you know Mike, you know he is now organizing an OF’s softball team in heaven. A funeral Mass will be held at St Peter and Paul in Cary on Thursday, August 9 at 10:30 a.m. with an opportunity to pay your respects to his family from 9:30 a.m. until Mass time at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, kindly donate to your favorite charity or animal shelter. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Michael Dennis Collins please visit our Sympathy Store. Previous Events Visitation , AUG 9.
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church 410 First St Cary, IL, US Funeral Mass , AUG 9.
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