Thomas "Tom" Joseph Collins

Thomas Joseph Collins, 94 of Cedar Rapids passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025.

A visitation will be held from 10 – 11 a.m. Friday, August 22, 2025, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids with Funeral Mass to immediately follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial with military honors at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Cedar Rapids following the service. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, is assisting the family.

Tom was born on January 31, 1931, in Waukon Iowa, the son of Martin and Marie (Drew) Collins. He spent the first years of his life with his family and siblings then at some point he moved to his grandparents’ farm (Frank and Maggie Drew) and lived there until he was grown. He married Dorothy Burns on May 15, 1951. He joined the Marine Corp in 1952 and served his country proudly in the Korean War. He was wounded in battle two times and received two Purple Hearts. Upon leaving the service he and Dorothy settled in Cedar Rapids and started a family. Tom worked at Penick & Ford for many years while they raised their four sons. He later would work as a truck driver and finally fulfilled a dream of owning a bar. They bought and ran The Office Bar in Belle Plaine, Iowa, for many years and met several great friends during this time. In their younger years they enjoyed camping and were later fortunate to spend the winters down in Arizona and Texas, which they both enjoyed telling us about as we shoveled snow back here in Iowa. Tom was very proud of his Irish heritage and was active in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cedar Rapids for many years. Tom was a proud Marine and was able to go on the Honor Flight in 2016 with his son Brian which he thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated.

Tom is survived by his sons, Randy (Corinne), Kelly (Connie) of Cedar Rapids, and Brian of Parsons, Kansas; grandchildren Sean, David, Libby, Jack, Joel and Bailey; brothers, Herb, Darell (Barbara); sisters, Karen (Jim) McCarthy and Connie Boland.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dorothy, son, Rick, and siblings, Dorothy Moloney, and Duane Collins.

Memorials may be directed to: VFW Post 788, 3240 Southgate Place SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404.