Leon L. Collins

Leon L. Collins, 74, of Grand Island, Nebraska died Thursday, May 23, 2013 at Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island. Services will be 10:30 A.M. Tuesday May 28, 2013 at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, with the Rev. Michael Reiners officiating. Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Park. Visitation hours will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, May 27, 2013 at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church, Heartland Lutheran School and Trinity Lutheran School. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family. Leon L. Collins was born October 22, 1938 at Ord, Nebraska the son of Vernon and Marie (Johnson) Collins. When Leon was 6 months old, his father was killed in a farming accident. His mother married Ernest Kuehner in 1941. He attended District 32 School through the 8th grade. He graduated from Phillips High School in 1956. He entered the U.S. Navy on August 31, 1956 and was honorably discharged on July 28, 1959. Leon was united in marriage to Charlene Hilligas on May 29, 1960 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hampton, Nebraska. The couple lived in Grand Island, North Platte, and Lexington. They have lived the past 45 years in Grand Island. He worked and retired after 30 years for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. After retirement, Leon went on to work for several other telecommunication companies. He was a charter member of Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. He was an usher and sang in the choir at Peace Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing, playing guitar, and singing. He took pride in keeping his yard immaculate. Leon loved his grandchildren and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He truly adored his wife, Charlene, and was very blessed to have shared nearly 53 years of wedded bliss. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Charlene of Grand Island; sons, Steve Collins of Grand Island, Mike Collins of Cairo and his special friend, Gian Baxter-Roberts of Lincoln; grandchildren, Ashley Collins of Grand Island and Shayla Collins of Grand Island; brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Elinor Kuehner of Blue Hill; sisters and brother-in-law, Cheryl Kuehner of Albion and Karen and Mark Sullivan of Doniphan; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Deryl and Pati Hilligas of Hampton; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Janice McIntyre.