Max Carven Collins

Died peacefully on December 2nd, 19 days shy of his 95th birthday, of causes incident to age. He was born December 21, 1920 in Macon, MI the son of Everett and Bessie (Carven) Collins. He had been a resident of Saline for most of his life. He graduated from Saline High School in 1939, continuing his education for a time at Eastern Michigan University. Max received his U.S. Navy officer's commission in March of 1945 and, after World War II, stayed active in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a commander in 1980. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and had a long career in government contracts administration for the Ford Motor Co., and Ann Arbor area corporations Bendix, Conductron and KMS Industries retiring in 1986. Max married the love of his life, Jeannette Edith Clay on March 10, 1945 in a double ceremony with Jeannette's late sister Catherine and the late Milton Hartman at People's Church in East Lansing, MI. The two went on to raise a family of four children and to enjoy their eight grandchildren. President of the Saline Jaycees in the early 1950's and a member of the Saline City Council from 1952 to 1954, Max also served on the Saline Board of Education from 1967 to 1974 as treasurer and as president. An avid hunter and fisherman, Max enjoyed gardening, travel, photography and home improvement while remaining an enthusiastic follower of college and professional sports. For more than 35 years, his summers were spent at the beloved family cottage in Bay View, MI, where the peony garden, lovingly tended by Max and Jeannette, remains known throughout that community. Both Max and Jeannette retained their membership in the First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor, MI for some 50 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Charles Everett Collins. Survivors include his wife of more than 70 years and children Julie Anne (the late Dale Wolke) of Northville, MI, Brian Clay (Roy Figurski) of Grosse Pointe, MI, Liza Lee (Richard Adams) of Libertyville, IL, and Kevin Jon (Colleen Coogan) of Rockport, MA. Grandchildren are: Ana and Mara Wolke, Emily (Stephen Siegel), Ethan and Eric (Jenny) Adams, Grace, Clara and Max Collins. Grand dog Edith May provided him much pleasure and comfort. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the Service at 11:00 A.M. at Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home 301 E. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI with Chaplain Cathy Rafferty, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Saline followed by Military Honors under the auspices of the Veterans Honor Guard of Washtenaw County. In lieu of Flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Bay View Association, P.O. Box #583, Petoskey, MI 49770 (www.bayviewassociation.org) and envelopes will also be available at the Funeral Home.

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Max Carven Collins

December 21, 1920 - December 2, 2015