Michael Thomas Collins, 75, of Long Grove, IL passed away peacefully on October 9th surrounded by his family at JourneyCare. Born October 1, 1943 in La Crosse, WI to the late Gifford and Rita (Roggensack) Collins, he married Alice Lorenz on August 7, 1965. He graduated from Aquinas High School in La Crosse in 1961 and worked at First National Bank.
In 1965 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, where he taught electronics. After his discharge, he worked for the BN Railroad while earning his Business Degree from UW-La Crosse. In the mid 1970’s he joined Journal Films, and he and his family were relocated from La Crosse to San Diego.
In 1978 he was relocated again to the Chicago area where he and his family have since lived. In 1979 his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own company, Film Ideas, Inc., to which he devoted his life until he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2016. His passion, talent and creativity were instrumental in the business being successful for 40 years.
In addition to working, he looked forward to spending time in Palm Springs, CA. , traveling, attending Drum Corps shows, all genres of music and investing in real estate. He had a wonderful sense of humor that has been passed on to his children and grandchildren.
It will be missed. Mike is survived by his wife Alice; his daughter, Michelle Cacciatore; his son, Christopher (Susan); and his six grandchildren, Matthew, Joseph and Sara Cacciatore, and Sydney, Chloe and Kyle Collins. He is also survived by 10 siblings; five brothers, Rich (Kate) of Charlottesville, VA.
, Tim (Cheryl), Terry (Karolyn), Bill (Jean) of La Crosse, WI, Mark (Millie) of Hannibal, MO. ; and five sisters, Patty Harding of Onalaska, WI, Kathleen (Jim) Donskey of Phoenix, AZ Jeanne (Jim) Bayorgeon of Appleton, WI. , Sheila (Steve) Yates of Burnsville, MN.
, and Julie Andersen of St. Paul, MN; his sisters-in-law, Arlene Oldenburg of West Salem, WI, and Elaine Stelloh of Barre Mills, WI. Mike was preceded in death by his son, Curtis; his parents, Gifford and Rita; his father and mother in law, Elmer and Ruth (Powell) Lorenz; his sister, Mary (the late Bill) Merfeld; his brothers-in-law, Richard Stelloh and Reuben Oldenburg; and his niece, Nicole Eilertson. The family would like to also extend a special thank you to his doctors and the staff at JourneyCare for their compassion and expertise.
The family will receive guests from 4-8pm, Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 941 S. Old Rand Rd. , Lake Zurich. Visitation will continue from 9:30am until time of funeral service at 10:30am, Monday, October 15, 2018 at the funeral home.
Interment is private. Memorial contributions will be donated to JourneyCare in Mike’s honor.
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