Bill Dean Collins, 94, died July 18, 2023, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born April 3, 1929, on a farm near Chetopa, KS, in Cherokee County, to Charles Cameron and Ora Crystal (Mordica) Collins.
Bill graduated from Columbus High School, Columbus, KS in 1947, and Kansas State University in 1951. He earned his master’s degree, in 1962, from the University of Wisconsin. Following graduation from KSU, Bill entered the United States Marine Corps in 1951. He served in Korea with the 1st Marine Division, 1st Signal Battalion, ANGLICO, from 1952 to 1953.
Following his military service, Bill accepted the position of Nemaha County 4-H Club Agent in Seneca, KS. His KSU Extension career included being the 4-H Agent from 1954-1958 in Seneca, and from 1958-1959 in Harvey County, Newton. From 1959 to 1965, Bill was the County Agricultural Agent for Harvey County and from 1965-1988, he was a Farm Management Association Fieldman, Hutchinson. Bill retired from the extension office in 1988. He then worked for Central Bank and Trust Company, in Hutchinson, for 10 years, retiring in 1998.
Bill was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, and the Doers Sunday School Class. In addition, he was a member and past-president of NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees), American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68, and Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Bill also was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and Alpha Zeta (an honorary fraternity), at Kansas State University.
On June 26, 1954, he married Mary Janet Smith, at the First Baptist Church, Hutchinson.
Bill is survived by: his wife of over 69 years, Mary Janet; son, James Dean “Jim” Collins (Mary Lee Stansifer), Denver, CO; daughter, Jana Kay Collins, Hutchinson; and grandchildren, Zoe Stansifer Collins and Zachary Dean Collins.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; a brother, Charles Jack Collins, and a sister, Marjorie Mary Collins.
Memorial service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 22, 2023, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 N. Main, Hutchinson, with the Reverend Dr. Kim Biery officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the United States Marine Corps. Private family burial will take place in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson. Friends may sign his book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Elliott Mortuary. The family will greet friends at the church following his service.
Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church or Wesley Towers Good Samaritan Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
Bill spent most of his life in agriculture, working with farm families in Northeast and South-Central Kansas, helping them improve their farm and to help feed the world.