Gary Collins Obituary

Gary Collins
November 30, 1946 - May 20, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Gary P Collins. Gary was born in Laurel, DE on November 30, 1946. He succumbed to complications of Acute Myeloid Leukemia on May 20, 2025. Gary battled AML and then Liver Cancer for over 3 years.
He was predeceased by his parents Paul and Mollie Collins and his brother Danny Collins. He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy Corda, daughters Stacey Ross, Jill Collins (Chris), Jennifer Martin, Angela Veath (Blake), son-in-law Mark Bierotte, grandchildren Lindy Serper (Henry), Ethan Henderson, Alexandra Bierotte, Kobe Bierotte, Cora Veath, David Veath, Olivia Ostergood, and three great grandsons. He is also survived by siblings Trudy Stevens (Ed), Linda Collins, Stanley Collins (Teri), Pam James (Jay), mother-in-law Minne Corda, sister-in-law Carol Siebe, brother-in-law Hank Corda (Karen) and David Corda (deceased). He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews.
Gary attended Laurel Elementary School and graduated from Laurel High School in 1964. He enlisted in the Air Force immediately after graduation at left home at the age of 17. He served in the Air Force from 1964 to 1968 and took a 1-day vacation before starting a job with Pacific Gas and Electric. After retiring from PG&E in 2005, he started GPC's High Weed Mowing business, and in recent years, farmed in his beloved John Deere Tractor for George McClelland Dairy.
People called him a lot of things, including GPC, Buckaroo, High Weed, PopPop, Carl, Uncle 9 and Uncle Gary. The things he loved most in life were his wife Nancy, driving tractors, Lionel trains, the 49ers, making his award-winning pickles (124 jars last year), his grandkids, hunting with his friends and Delaware summers. Anyone who came by GPC's garage for a conversation and cocktail knew that he is someone you never forget.
Nancy would like to thank his oncologist, Dr. Gill, and Staff at Kaiser Oncology Clinic in Terra Linda, Dr. Baer and Oncology Department at Kaiser Oakland, and the Staff of Kaiser Terra Linda Hospital. They helped Gary fight a good fight up until the end.
Donations in Gary's honor may be made to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org), the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) or the Laurel High School Athletic Department, 1160 S. Central Ave, Laurel, DE 19956.
A Celebration of Life for Gary will be held at the Ernest and Minnie Corda Ranch, 833 Chileno Valley Road on July 12,2025. Please gather at 11:00 a.m. with Military Honors Service at 12:00 p.m. Please join us to honor his life and legacy.