James B. “Jim” Collinson

a great man and dear friend he will be very missed

Many happy fun years of baseball and hockey with Jim together while following Todd and Steve. He will be missed!

My cute grandpa, I will miss you.

Our relationship was special, but so was his relationship with all of his grandkids. I jokingly say I was the favorite, but I know he didn’t have one, he loved us all. What’s even cooler was that each relationship was different, but just as special!! He was so kind, gentle and wise. He never questioned my life decisions, but he made sure I thought everything out, had a plan, and helped me if I needed it( sometimes without telling gram, sorry Gram!). We laughed and laughed and laughed until we cried every time we’d be in the same room. I will miss the “ there she is” and the big smile when I’d go to give him a hug. I’ll miss the sweet kisses on my cheeks and the soft “l love yous”. I will miss watching you adore Blakely and your other great grandkids. Anyone that knew you loved you know matter if they only met you once for 5min or knew you for 50+ years.

You lived such a full life and I promise all of us will be ok at some point. We will spread your love and kindness. I promise we will take care of Gram too. Rest easy, relaxed and in a comfy recliner. Until we meet again my cute grandpa.

Remembering my beloved grandfather, a beacon of stoic wisdom and profound intelligence, who shaped my life since childhood. His legacy of strength and guidance lives on in all of our hearts. I love you Grandpa with my entire being and will talk to you everyday for the rest of my life.

Man, where do I even begin with this guy. It truly says a lot about a man and how he cared for his family when I can’t think of any significant moments in my life and my Grandpa wasn’t there to celebrate with me. Especially, with a family the size of ours. The human GPS, the never-failing one liners that seemed to always hit the funny bone, and the way that he made all of us feel like the most important person in the room. Grandpa, thank you for setting such a great example. Thank you showing all of us how to love, how to lead, and how to keep the first things first. Until we meet again, we love you – Mitch, Kaitlin, Jonah, and Micah (Jonah will be sure to watch over Gramma Pajama for you!)

Both Jim and Jane were devoted to adoring Jesus truly present in the Eucharist at the Holy Spirit Oratory where it seemed designated seats were specifically reserved for them.

Jim and Jane followed biblical principles. They did as all believers are urged to do in Psalm 105:4-5 where it reads: “Seek out the Lord and his might; constantly seek his face.” God delighted in their regular scheduled visits and heard their countless prayers.

I was surprised to learn of Jim’s swift passage into eternal life. During Adoration I found a passage which I know rings true. It is Psalm 116:15 “Dear in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his devoted.” Here it speaks of physical, not spiritual death.

May it comfort Jane and all who mourn to know, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 57, it clearly states, “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will be changed, in an instant, in the blink of the eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For what is corruptible must clothe itself in what is incorruptibility, and that which is mortal with immortality. And when that which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: ‘Death is swallowed in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’…But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

These passages came to me in the Holy Spirit Oratory as I prayed in the spot where Jim previously sat while here on earth. Perhaps he is continuing to intercede for us all now after he has more clearly seen Jesus face to face.

May God grant to Jane and all who mourn Jim’s passing comfort and peace. God bless.

Us kids learned SO much from my dad, both from his actions and his words. I hope everyone can take that away with them after today and tomorrow as we celebrate dad’s life .
In his actions was kindness and being respectful to absolutely everybody he encountered. He was non-judgmental and never rude to anybody he knew or even a stranger. Whether it be a coach of ours, waitress, coworkers, the cop that pulled us over while he was speeding on the way to church, the neighbors, the clerk that checked him in for a procedure that was obviously not having a good morning, every single nurse or doctor.
But most of all he was respectful to us , and to my mom.
Every single morning my mom would make my dad breakfast. They would say grace , and eat together, sitting across the table from one another. When I was younger my dad would then get ready for work and walk to the front door with his briefcase in hand. Mom would follow. dad would step down, the one step of the landing , so they were more eye to eye, and they would exchange a kiss and hug. Then off to work . As a teenager watching this from the breakfast table I thought ‘ewww’. I would give anything to see that again.

His words, in the advice that he gave all of us, from buying a house, to planning for retirement, positioning yourself for a ground ball, the level of the lawnmower blade and why, how to skate faster on the ice rink. He drilled into us that we will always use math , how to read a paper map (and always have one in your car!) or how to have the most successful garden. He knew it all.

He taught us that you don’t need to be in a fancy hotel to make memories or fly across the world to another country. The best memories are made just being together, even if you’re in a log cabin in the middle of 600+ acres , with no running water and using an out house . He was right. Of course. Those were the best memories.

When I look at my mom, my siblings, all the grandkids, and great grandkids, it shows his love so intensely and it Speaks volumes. Thank you dad for being ALL of this to me, but more importantly to Tori and Brenden. Blakely will miss her cookie from you and you guys blowing eachother a kiss after our visits.
You did great job, Dad. Thank you. I love you.