Michael Eugene Collins

Michael’s life was a symphony of color and sound. Born in Vicksburg, Michigan, he first found his voice through the soulful notes of a saxophone at Vicksburg High School, where music became the heartbeat of his youth. Later, his hands discovered another art—stained glass—transforming fragments into windows that captured light and life.

His journey carried him through years of dedicated work at Upjohn, a season in retail at Tepes, and finally to his proudest chapter: opening an antique store with his trusted friend and business partner Rob E Lee. For two decades, that store was more than a business—it was a haven for history and beauty, where Michael shared stories and taught the delicate craft of stained glass, inspiring others to see magic in broken pieces.

Quiet and reflective, Michael cherished his pets and held his faith close, guiding him through life’s joys and sorrows.

He is survived by his father, Jack Collins, and brothers Robert (Michelle) Collins and Garret Collins, along with his nephew Dustin, each thread in the intricate tapestry of his life interwoven with a love that transcended words. While he leaves behind cherished connections, he is now reunited with the souls of his departed family: his mother, Carol Collins, and grandparents John and Nina Collins, Robert and Maxine York, whose memories will echo in the hearts of those he loved.

As we bid farewell to Michael Eugene Collins, we celebrate a life adorned with creativity, connection, and the undying spirit of an artist who transformed the ordinary into extraordinary. His legacy resides not only in the artifacts he collected and cherished but in the love he radiated, the lessons he imparted, and the lives he touched with every stroke of color and sound.