Howard Lee Collinge

Howard Lee Collinge

April 23, 1934-July 14, 2023

ERIE, IL-Howard Lee Collinge, 89, of Erie, IL, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023 at home. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm Saturday, July 22, 2023 at the Gibson – Bode Funeral, Erie. A Celebration of Life Sharing will be held at 3:30 PM. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Foundation.

Howard was born on April 23, 1934 in Emporia, KS, to Ellis and Lura (Dunfield) Collinge. Howard married Roberta Hervey on January 23, 1955 with whom he shares three daughters, Joyce, Jacque, and Julie. He later married Shirley Templeton-Knott on December 26, 1964 in Moline, IL.

Howard served in the Army National Guard, and then went on to work for various railroads for the next 43 years, many of which were spent working on passenger trains, and later for Iowa Interstate Railroad as an Engineer where he eventually retired. In addition to working for the railroad, he spent most of his life farming on the side.

Howard loved to travel. He traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Germany, Austria, Ireland, and Panama. He also loved NASCAR. He traveled to Michigan and Texas to watch races. He also attended the Daytona 500 for 50 years in a row, and actually saw the first racing when it was on the beach. Howard's love of the motorcycle took him many miles. One trip took him to Colorado and through the mountains, and the next year to California and many times to Key West, FL. He loved to camp and spent many summers camping at the Iowa State Fair where he met up with his grandson, Bluegrass Festivals, and Octoberfest in the Amanas.

He was a volunteer in Mt. Pleasant for Midwest Central, a member of NARVRE, and also a member of Flying Country Club.

Howard is survived by his wife Shirley; his daughters, Joyce Davidson of Lexington, KY, Jacque Collinge of Indianapolis, IN, Julie (Greg) Hostetler of Barrington, IL; step daughter, Candice Knott of Blue Springs, MO; a sister, Frances (Harlan) Northup of Okahumpka, FL; grandchildren, Rebecca Davidson (Matt Kramer), Gavin Hostetler, Rachel Hostetler; great grandchildren, Owen Koenig and Harper Kramer. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother in infancy, Ellis Eugene. Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com.