Douglas W. Collins

Memorial Services for Doug Collins will be held on Friday, October 26, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Alma, Nebraska with Reverend Jim Bendorf officiating. Additional Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Burlington United Methodist Church in Burlington, Colorado, with Reverend Burry Bessee officiating.  A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Douglas Wade Collins, 88 of Alma, died on Thursday October 18, 2018 at his daughter's home in rural Elm Creek, Nebraska.  Doug was born on November 25, 1929 in Jewell County, Kansas.  Doug was the eldest of two children born to Verne and Irma Collins.  He received his education at schools in Kansas and Colorado and attended auctioneering school in Kansas City, Missouri.  Doug also earned real estate sales and brokerage licenses, following graduation from auctioneering school.

Doug married Phyllis Fromong on June 5, 1949 in Goodland, Kansas.  Doug and Phyllis were the parents of a daughter, Lanna Lee.  Doug was employed by Fromong Body Shop in Burlington, until the business sold in 1963.  After working in the auto body business, Doug attended auctioneering school and after graduation, he established an auto auctioning agency in Hays, Kansas.  Doug earned his real estate sales license and moved to Burlington, where he was engaged in real estate sales and auctioneering.  Doug earned his real estate brokerage license and established Collins Auction and Realty.  Doug sold the business in 1983 but remained engaged in the real estate sales, auctioneering, and the property appraisal business.  Over a span of several years, Doug purchased tracts of farm land and was engaged in farming as well as real estate work.  Doug and Phyllis moved to Alma to be near their daughter and grandsons in 1996.

Throughout his life, Doug enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid reader.  He read the business and farming periodicals from "cover-to-cover", but enjoyed most, frontier fiction by popular novelists, Tony Hillerman and Louie Lamoure.  He was rumored to be a very good walleye fisherman at Bonny Dam in eastern Colorado but became an enthusiastic catfish fisherman at Harlan County Reservoir.  His grandsons were very special to him.  He served as their mentor into the hobbies of fishing and waterfowl hunting and in return they loved "Popper" dearly.

Doug was known for his community service.  Doug was a member of volunteer fire department in Burlington but was most appreciated for serving as the auctioneer for local fund-raising events.  Even his grandsons coxed him into serving as the auctioneer for the Cub Scout and Boy Scout cake auctions that were part of their troop in Kearney, Nebraska.

Doug was preceded in death by; his parents; and two wives: Phyllis and Anne.

Doug is survived by; his daughter, Lanna Lee Bishop and husband, Paul of rural Elm Creek; two grandsons:  Andy Bishop and his wife, Kristen of Grand Island, Nebraska; and Rob Bishop and his wife, Katie of Fremont, Nebraska; five great grandchildren:  Riley, Addy, Audrey, AJ, and Adam; his sister, Carol Boden of Burlington; a nephew,  John Boden of Smith Center, Kansas; and a niece, Melissa Kleweno of Burlington; along with a host of friends in Alma and Burlington.

There will be no visitation or memorial book signing.  The family is honoring his wish for cremation.

Memorials in Doug's honor are suggested to:  the Heartland Medical Clinic Building Fund in Alma, the American Legion Post #6491 in Burlington or the Old Town Museum in Burlington.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.