Obituary of Thomas Francis Collins

Tom Collins, 82, of Duluth, Minnesota, succumbed to cancer at the comfort of the Franciscan Health Center surrounded by his family on February 24, 2020 at 12:20 pm, where he went to be with his Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Tom grew up in the East End on Jefferson Street and went to Holy Rosary School where he was an Alter Boy at Holy Rosary Church, then attended both Duluth Cathedral and Duluth Central (Class of 1955). In addition, Tom graduated from Porter and Luella Bailey’s Academy of Hair Design in 1958. He spent more than 25 years in the hairstyling business in Duluth and was the former owner of Town & Country Beauty Salon at the Kenwood Shopping Center. Tom was the President of the Kenwood Merchants Association, and was a longtime member of Holy Rosary Cathedral Church.

Tom moved to Payson, Arizona in 1983 and opened a business called B & R Interiors. Tom was a member of the Payson Elks Lodge, past member of the Rim Country Kiwanis, past member of the Payson Rodeo Committee, member of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the American Legion Post 69, member of the Greater Payson Moose Lodge 852 and past officer. Tom was also the manager of the Tomcol LLC land investment group and member of St. Philip the Apostoilc Church in Payson, Arizona. He returned back to Duluth in 2010 to retire.

Tom loved sports, hunting at his cabin on Pequaywan Lake, fishing, hockey and football, where his favorite team was the Minnesota Vikings. He also loved gardening and his long drives up the North Shore to enjoy the beauty of Northern Minnesota

Tom is preceded in death by his brothers, Dennis (Beverly) Collins and John Collins; and his parents, Al Collins and Harriet Collins.

He is survived by his loving wife, Lynette Collins; sons, Steven Collins, Mike Collins, Todd (Pamm) Collins and daughter, Christy Collins. Sister, Janet (Jim) Olander; brother, Rodrick (Peggy) Collins. He had many loving grandchildren, Travis (Sara) Collins, Dustin (Samantha) Collins, Dakota Collins, Anna (Patrick) Delgado, Luke and Leif Collins, Rayce and Rylan Rayburn; great-grandchildren, Scotty Collins, Rowan and Quinn Collins. He had many wonderful lifelong friends, nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to the staff at the Franciscan Health Center on Park Point for their loving care and support during his final days.

There will be a Celebration of Life Saturday April 4, visitation at 2:00 pm followed by the service at 3:00 pm at the Cremation Society, 4100 Grand Ave, Duluth, MN 55807.

Flowers and Memorial are welcomed.

SERVICE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.