John Ernest Collings

John E. Collings, 82, passed away on March 29th, 2026. He was the second son born to the late Roy and Helen (Goretski) Collings of Verona Township.

John was a dairy farmer his entire life, retiring in July of 2013 after 51 years working on the family farm.

In November of 1993 John married Sharon L. (Radabaugh) Buchholz at the Free Methodist Church in Bad Axe. He and Sharon attended church on a regular basis and both enjoyed singing in the church choir. John was a greeter at the church and thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone on Sunday morning and handing out candy to the kids entering the church doors.

John loved children, no matter how old and who they were, but he especially loved his grandchildren and his nieces and nephews. He was a great talker and would talk to and make friends with everyone. He loved people and brought joy to so many that knew him.

John is survived by his brothers, Carl, Gary (Elaine), Rick (Rose), and Randy (Kathy) Collings, a sister-in-law, Sharon A. Collings, stepchildren, Richie and Jill Buchholz with whom he had been living with the last seven years, Wade Witherspoon, Brian (Laura) Witherspoon and Anna Siewert (Mike). John was very proud to be a “Papa” and had 17 grandchildren, one-great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews..

He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, parents Roy and Helen Collings, two brothers, Roy II. and William Collings, two sisters, Mary Proctor and Judy Mazure, brother-in-law, Albert Mazure, father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Losetta Radabaugh, sister-in-law Dana Radabaugh, and a step-great grandson.

Visitation for John E. Collings will be Thursday, April 2nd at the MacAlpine Funeral Home in Bad Axe, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00p.m., with funeral services immediately following the visitation at the funeral home with Pastor Sam Reece officiating..

Memorials is John’s name may be offered to the family discretionary fund.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.macalpinefuneralhome.com