Michael J. Collins May 11, 1937 – August 19, 2026 Michael J. Collins, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and cherished friend, passed away on August 19, 2026, at the age of 89. Born on May 11, 1937, in Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania, Michael was the devoted son of the late Martha and Joseph Collins, and a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. On July 20, 1957, Michael married the love of his life, Mary, at St. John’s Air Force Chapel, beginning nearly 68 years of marriage and a life rooted in faith and family. Mary predeceased him in June 2025. Together, they were the proud parents of Michael (Carol) and Mark (Donna) Collins. Michael was a loving grandfather to Bryan, Danielle, Ryan, Michael, Justin and Robbie, welcomed PJ, Danielle and Niki into the family, and was especially proud to be “Gigi Pop” to great-grandchildren Shea, Maverick and Wesley. He was also a beloved brother-in-law to Jackie McCall, Godfather to Wally and Andrew Roadarmel and a cherished uncle to many nieces and nephews. After retiring from the Air Force, Michael built a career he loved in aviation training, first with Pan Am and later with Airbus. His true passion, however, was model railroading, earning him the distinction of Master Model Railroader #157. An award-winning photographer and published author, Michael celebrated the publication of his 100th article in July 2026. Michael lived a selfless, faith-filled life. A devoted friend and volunteer at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, he was always generous with his time and talents. He never met an art project he didn’t embrace. He loved bowling and a good competition, often complete with a custom trophy or T-shirt. With an undeniable sweet tooth, he firmly believed there was no wrong time for dessert. Michael Collins lived a life of service, creativity and quiet devotion to the people he loved. He found countless ways to make ordinary moments memorable, and his family and friends will deeply miss his patience, generosity, and love, and will carry the memories he created with them always.