Dr. James D. "JD" Collins

Mobridge - Mass of Christian Burial for Dr. James D. (JD) Collins, age 67, of Mobridge, S.D., will be on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mobridge with Fr. Brian Simon and Monsignor Marvin McPhee officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge under the direction of Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, followed by a scriptural wake service at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. There will also be visitation for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Tuesday. Dr. Collins passed away on Nov. 19, 2003, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen, S.D., after a courageous battle with cancer. James Donald Collins was born to Norbert and Beatrice (Bender) Collins in Trail City, S.D., on Nov. 6, 1936. He attended grade school at Red Top Country School. He then moved to Mobridge where he attended Mobridge High School his freshman year. He was discouraged from athletics when one coach told him he was not good enough to play, and this motivated him to practice and become better - eventually becoming an All-State Football Player. JD moved to Gettysburg where he lived with relatives a short time and then on his own, working and supporting himself until graduating from Gettysburg High School in 1954. Using his resourcefulness and the great confidence he possessed, he organized a boxing tournament in order to raise money to buy a suit for his graduation and pictures. He worked for Dr. Mott, a veterinarian in Gettysburg and then entered the U.S. Navy on July 15, 1954. He was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Key West, Fla., as a medic. It was during this time that he was inspired to pursue a medical career. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on Aug. 30, 1957. JD then entered South Dakota State University where he studied Pharmacology. However, he soon found more interest in becoming a medical doctor and transferred to the University of South Dakota. He met Patricia Wilhelm in Mobridge in the spring of 1961 while each was at home visiting family. They married on Aug. 19, 1961, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mobridge and made their home in Vermillion while he was a student as USD. In March 1964 their daughter Colleen Marie was born. He received his Bachelors Degree in Zoology in May that same year. In the Fall 1964, JD moved his family to Richmond, Va., where he received his Doctorate of Medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. Following graduation he completed his required one-year internship at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls. At the age of 30, JD and his family moved to Hoven, S.D., where, armed with his new knowledge and great confidence, he began his practice of medicine. Their sons, William James and Thomas John, were born in 1968 and 1970, respectively. He operated a private practice in Hoven until 1981 when he moved his family to Mobridge and joined the Mobridge Medical Clinic. In 1982 he started Collins Clinic, which he operated until 1986, at which time he sold his practice to Avera Health System in order to focus more on the care of his patients. Over the next 16 years he continued to dedicate his life to providing the special kind of medical care for which he was known and will always be remembered. This past July he was forced to retire from his 37-year practice due to health reasons. JD was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the South Dakota Medical Association, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Beta Theta Phi fraternity, the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, the Order of the Moose, Hoven Service Club, and Hoven Country Club. He was the Regional Flight-Physical Physician for the FAA for many years. As a Ducks Unlimited Sponsor, member of Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation and other organizations, JD showed generous support of wildlife conservation. In 1976, he became a board certified family physician and remained so until his retirement. Each year he was a Preceptor (clinical instructor) to a second year medical student and took great pride in helping them develop their skills as future doctors. In 1997 he was named South Dakota Doctor of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians - an award for which he was very deserving. JD was enthusiastic about his collections of wildlife art, commemorative guns and rare coins. As an avid sportsman, he spent countless hours hunting and fishing with family and friends. Memories of the adventures with him will always provide laughter as we recall recent outings or those years ago. Friends often say "everyone has a story about JD." JD was a generous husband, father, doctor and friend. He dearly loved his family and has touched the lives of everyone he has met. Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Patricia of Mobridge, S.D.; his mother, Beatrice Collins of Mobridge, S.D.; his mother-in-law, Julia Wilhelm of Sturgis, S.D.; one daughter, Colleen (Brent) Rohlfs of Aberdeen, S.D.; two sons, Bill Collins of Aberdeen, S.D., and Thomas (Christine) Collins of Rapid City, S.D.; grandchildren Karsten, Zachary, Hunter, Jackson, Alexis and Samuel. Sisters, JoAnn (Dean) Wendt of Mobridge and Judy (Dennis) Hintz of Dickinson, N.D.; brothers, Jerry of Wichita, Kan., and Jack of Bismarck, N.D.; numerous nieces and nephews, and his Yellow Labrador, Jake. He was preceded in death by his father, Norbert Collins. Casket bearers will be Darrell Bender, Bob Smith Sr., Bob Fulkerson, Lefty Schmidt, Dr. John Jackson, Jim Grad, Raymond Sutton Jr., and Gary Alexander. Honorary casket bearers will be his hunting and fishing partners, co-workers at Family Practice Clinic and organists and pianists will be Peggy Dixon, Sharon Hammer and Marge Mertz. Congregational hymns led by St. Joseph's Catholic Church Choir will be "Christ Be Our Light", "One Bread One Body", "We Remember", "In This Place", "The Cross of Love", "Song of Farewell" and "Here I Am Lord." Responsorial hymn led by Steve Schatz. Eucharistic Ministers will be Audrey and Marcus Lesmeister and Luella and John Bosch. Servers will be Brittany Fuhrman, Hannah Nickels and Mindy Roesler. Readers will be Gail Bonn and B.J. Schaefbauer. Eulogist will be Benj Stoick. Ushers will be Jim Curran, Louis Lipp, Dr. Robert Marciano, Russ Hatch, John Rothstein, Gary Payer and Steve Schatz. Offertory gifts will be carried by Doc's Grandchildren Karsten, Zachary, Hunter, Jackson, Alexis and Samuel.