Joseph "Joe" Collins

Joseph (Joe) Collins of Hamilton, Ohio, passed peacefully into Heaven with a smile on his face Monday, November 18th at 4:45 PM, at Fort Hamilton Hospital in the comfort of family and friends. He was born on June 5, 1928 in Covington, Kentucky to Ray and Elizabeth (Sagesar) Collins. He spent the majority of his childhood years in Hanover Township and graduated from Hanover High School. He was employed at Champion Papers, retiring in 1991. It was there that he met the love of his life, Alberta Young. They were married at New Zion/Western Avenue Baptist Church (now known as Hamilton West Baptist Church) on September 27, 1952, and they enjoyed 58 years of marriage before her passing in March of 2010. To their union was born their loving daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Collins who was also their close friend and companion. Joe and Alberta were big supporters of Betty’s teaching career and many times helped in and out of her classroom in a variety of ways. Joe enjoyed reading, keeping up with current events, and all kinds of sports, especially baseball. While in high school he pitched for Hanover High School’s baseball team and then went on to play for many years in Hamilton’s church, city, and industrial leagues. Joe was a proud Korean War veteran, reaching the rank of sergeant in the 24th infantry.He loved to share stories of how the conditions were, and up until their passing he kept in touch for many years with several men across the country with whom he served. His service to our country is honored with a brick at the Hanover Township Veterans Park War Memorial at the site of the old Hanover High School. Joe was a member of the Hamilton West Baptist Church (New Zion/Western Avenue Baptist Church) for over 60 years and enjoyed his church family. Although health issues kept him from attending services over the last few months, he was still faithful to the congregation and prayed for them. Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife Alberta, his parents, father and mother in law John and Louise Young, brother and sister in law Donald and Rosemary Young, niece Vicky Young, and a host of other cherished family and friends. Leaving behind to celebrate Joe’s life are his daughter Betty who considered it a joy and privilege to take care of him, his constant companion and buddy Sugar Bear, his nieces Linda (Al) Kohlas and daughter Alana, Donna (Steve) Keener and her children Robby Sager and Sheree (Charles) Spears, and nephews Doug and Dennis Young. He is also survived by wonderful cousins and their families who live throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2013, from 5-8 PM at the Brown Dawson Flick Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, Hamilton, Ohio. Services will be on Friday morning, November 22, 2013 at 10 AM at the funeral home, with Pastor David Williams of Hamilton West Baptist Church officiating. Instead of flowers it is asked that memorials be sent to the stewardship fund at Hamilton West Baptist Church, 1050 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton, Ohio 45013 in Joe’s honor. A special thanks to Doctors Chetna and Anu Mital, Dr. Richard Sternberg, Dr. Evan Lang, Dr.Deborah Hauger, Dr. Sateesh Kesari and all their great staffs for their excellent and compassionate care over the years. Another special thanks to the Hamilton City EMT’s, the emergency department staff of Ft. Hamilton Hospital, the caring staff of Ft. Hamilton ICU, and Rhonda, Kirk, and Lori from Gem City Home Health Care. Your efforts were much appreciated and definitely not unnoticed. Joe lived a long life in spite of his health issues, and he never gave up. He will be greatly missed, but is now enjoying a new healthy body in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, his wife Alberta, and his family and friends.