Jackson H. Collins was born on May 13, 1930, the son of Myrtle Woodson Collins and John Harvey Collins. He passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023, at his home.
Jack, the youngest of seven children, was born on the family farm in Tippecanoe Twp., Henry County, Iowa. He started his schooling in a one room country school, Pleasant Point, and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School, Class of 1948. In 1950 he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he received training as a radio repairman.
On June 22, 1952 he married Miss Barbara C. Messer of Burlington and they started their married life in Alaska where he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage. In the fall of 1953 he rotated to the Lower 48, being posted to March Field at Riverside, California. On discharge in the fall of 1954 they remained in California, moving to Burlington in the fall of 1955.
He continued working in consumer electronics until the fall of 1956 at which time he started work at International Resistance Company. While there he transferred into the Electronic Engineering department, rising to the position of Senior Electronic Engineer. He worked in this capacity until 1983, at which time he became Plant Manager for an Electronic Assembly plant in South Dakota. In 1999 they returned to Iowa and he accepted employment to salvage an Electronic Assembly division which was failing. This accomplished, he remained with that company until his retirement at age 73. Following retirement he was a long standing member of the Walnut Creek YMCA.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, their five children: Gerald, Karen, Steven, Diane and Angela. Six grandchildren: Alyssa, Samantha, Paul, Gwendolyn, Adam and Zachariah. Daughters in law: Christina and Elizabeth and one sister: June Collins Klopfenstein. Preceding him in death are his parents, his sisters: Helen Robertson, Mabel Collins, Flora Ford Kratch and his brothers: John and Frank Collins.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends from noon until time of service. Burial will follow in the Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington. A memorial has been established in his memory.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com
Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.