Michael K. Collins

I had Mr. Collins as my chemistry teacher back in my sophomore year of high school back in 2015. He made the class feel easy, and welcoming. I remember he had to take a few weeks away due to surgery and when he came back the class felt alive again. I am finishing up my degree in Chemistry and he was the sole reason I decided to pursue it, he made me feel like I was meant to pursue chemistry and he always answered my questions with enthusiasm. I was hoping to be able to share my degree with him. Now when I do graduate in a few months I hope he can see that my degree was all because of how good of a teacher he was and how much of an impact he had to my life.

I will always remember Mike telling his very long jokes and hoping he would nail the punchline. There was never a dull moment with him and there were always smiles all around.

My condolences to Mike's friends and family. He was one of the good guys. I first met Mike in the hot tub at the Door County YMCA and we shared many pleasant conversations there. We swam next to each other many days. The last several months I missed seeing him and I feared his condition had worsened. A kind and compassionate soul . He will be missed by his Y family.