By Staff
Garlin's life began on Aug. 6, 1942, in Wynne, Ark., the son of Garlin and Juanita (Coleman) Collins.
He found his way to Michigan as the family moved from Arkansas to Illinois and finally settled in Michigan.
Garlin was united in marriage to the former Suzanne Tagart on July 29, 1978, in Arkansas.
He worked at National Copper Products in Dowagiac from 1994 until his retirement in 2006.
Garlin enjoyed playing golf and he loved to fish, especially at Kelsey Lake.
He loved to travel and enjoyed good food – particularly catfish.
Most of all Garlin loved his children and grandchildren. He loved to play with his grandchildren in the pool.
He was a born-again Christian who loved his Lord and Savior.
His loving family includes: his wife Suzanne of Dowagiac; his children, Allice and her husband Ken Goode of Elburn, Ill., Kathy Wroblewski of Madeline Island, Wis., Thomas and his wife Kathi Mihm of Elma, Iowa, Tammy Potter of Guilford, Mass., Cindy and her husband Steven Deihl of Dowagiac, Brandy and her husband Robert Lozano of Pineville, Ky., and Jason Collins of Dowagiac; 14 grandchildren; his sisters, Janice and her husband James Heath and Judy Childress, all of Forrest City, Ark.; his brother, James Collins of Elburn, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.
Garlin went home to be with his Lord and Savior as his family rejoiced for him on Sunday, April 1, at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac.
He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Tommy Collins.
His family will meet friends on Wednesday, April 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, where his funeral service will be held on Thursday at 3 p.m. led by the Rev. Martha Cooper of The Lord's House Church.
He will be laid to rest in South Wayne Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the family.
Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Junior at www.mclauchlin-clark.com.