Joe Carroll Collins

April 26th, 1933 - March 21st, 2021

Joe's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Joe here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

Joe was my friend. He was my teacher and coach during his first three years of teaching at South Haven High School. I graduated in 1961 and went off to college at MSU. Joe and Glenna married in 1961 and went off to graduate school at MSU. In 1966 Joe picked me up at my apartment in Benton Harbor and took me to interview for a teaching position in St. Joe. Joe and I taught and coached together for many years. He always impressed me as a respected teacher who brought academic rigor to his classroom--a model for students and colleagues alike. Today I wish that my grandchildren will have teachers like Joe Collins. And friends too...

Clare Adkin

February 8th, 2022 at 11:58am

Add me to the list of former students who are so glad and lucky to have had Mr. Collins as a biology teacher. His class was always fun (who could forget the chicks?) and his enthusiasm for the subject was infectious. He and Mr Pschigoda took some of us to universities in Kalamazoo and Chicago to see science lectures, and he let me do an independent study with him, which we used to attempt to teach flatworms to run a simple maze. That last experiment was never a success, but his encouragement in the face of failure was important — think about what didn’t work and try again, because figuring stuff out is the fun part of science. He was an important influence on me, and I send my deep condolences to his family.

Jennifer Ast

March 31st, 2021 at 6:04am

Our condolences to Glenna and family. We knew Joe from church. During coffee time, he would always ask about our children whom he had taught. He and Glenna were very active at First United Methodist Church maintaining the entrance garden and contributing to church improvements. It is so sad that dementia in his last years prevented him continuing his good works for his family, friends, church and community

LYNN AND JUNE RAYLE

March 28th, 2021 at 3:51pm

He was a great teacher - he made science accessible and relevant and FUN! I remember a field trip we took when he walked us through the ravine behind the school - it was amazing to see the science right in our own back yard! I also remember when his son Mike was late to class one day and Mr. Collins locked him out of the room and made us all promise to not let Mike in until Mr. C. had proven his point about being on time ? Thinking of the whole Collins family!

Beth Moffatt

March 22nd, 2021 at 8:00pm

One of my favorite teachers and one of the reasons I am in the science field today. I helped set up labs for the freshman students during my work hour with Mr. Collins. I will always remember him telling me, "I will always be learning, all of my life". I think he was taking a class at Sarett and my high school self wondered why he was taking a class at his age. I share a love of nature with him, maybe he helped inspire that too, I am a member at Sarett as well. Later when I was in college, I thought about him, how smart he was and thought that we were lucky to have him teaching at the high school level. Condolences to his family, I am sure that you have wonderful memories of a long life lived. Know that there are many of us out there that he touched through his time teaching. Kelly DePumpo (Ludlam)