Jacquelin "Jacq" Collins

Jacquelin Collins, aged 90, of Boyceville, WI died Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Red Cedar hospital in Menomonie, after a stroke ended his long battle with Louie Body dementia. He was born Dec, 27, 1933 in Kenaston, Saskatchewan, Canada, to James Cummins Collins (an American citizen) and Jane Mary Collins (Canadian). He grew up on the family farm near Kenaston and graduated from Kenaston High School.

Despite his life-long love for Canada, Jacq exercised his right to American citizenship, enrolling in college (and ROTC) at Rice University in Houston, Texas. There, he earned Bachelor and Masters degrees, majoring in History.

Then, to complete his required military service, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a second Lieutenant. Because it was peacetime, his active duty service was limited, and he was free in September of 1959 to begin work on his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, That degree was awarded to him in 1964. ( He continued his military service in reserve units in Illinois and Texas for many years, ending as a Captain).

At the University of Illinois, he met Natalyn Dexter (Lyn), and they married on September 2, 1961 at Evergreen Covenant Church in Rockford, Illinois. They had two children, James Dexter Collins and Sterrett Joel Collins.

Jacq began his teaching career at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in September of 1962, as an assistant professor, teaching primarily British history. Later he became an associate professor. His British history classes were so popular that the Department decided to hire a second British historian, Brian Blakeley, who along with his wife Mary, grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Thus began a friendship between the colleagues and couples which has endured to the present. Jacq and Brian’s classes delighted in playing cricket and lawn-bowling matches against each other. Together, Brian and Jacquelin co-authored “Documents in English History”, a well received textbook. The couples back-packed together on many occasions, climbing mountains in Texas and New Mexico, sometimes as families. Retiring to the Menomonie area they became tree-farmers.

At Texas Tech, Jacq received teaching awards naming him as an Outstanding Faculty Member in 1982, 1984, and 1988. He was also a faculty leader. He served terms as: President of the university's Faculty Senate, President of the university's chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) , Texas State President of AAUP, and was elected to serve on the national board of AAUP. He was devoted to academic freedom.

After teaching many years, and while continuing to teach his college courses full-time, (with a reduction in pay) Jacq also enrolled as a full time student in the Texas Tech Law School and earned a place on the Law Review. In 1984, he was awarded his Juris Doctorate degree and passed the Texas Bar Exam. Although contemplating a change of career to the practice of law and being asked to apply by several leading law firms, Jacq chose to remain a faculty member. He had just learned that the Texas Tech Board of Regents was planning to adopt a policy which would have ultimately phased out tenure for faculty at Texas Tech. He chose to stay a faculty member and became co-leader of the faculty’s successful legal fight which prevented adoption of that policy.

Despite his record of championship of faculty rights, Jacq was later asked by the university administration to become the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs for the College of Liberal Arts and Science. Having had no such ambition, he declined the position several times. However, when a highly respected professor, Jane Winer, was named Dean, he agreed to serve when it was agreed he could also continue to teach one class each semester. He held the position until one year before retirement, when he returned to full-time teaching. While in that position in 1994, he was honored by the Lubbock Chapter of the Women’s Business Association as Boss Of The Year.

While in Lubbock, Jacq served for many years as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church, and later, terms in officer positions at the United Church of Christ. He also served as an officer for the United Nations appreciation organization, and the Scottish Heritage Society. He was one of the adult leaders and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 404. He led many 50 mile hikes for the scouts in the mountains of New Mexico. Many scouts claimed that the hikes were somehow 75% uphill but still ended up where they started. On trips to Big Bend National Park he traced out an undocumented trail over Mariscal Mountain. Into his seventies he was also a long distance runner often winning races for his age group.

On retiring to just north of Menomonie in 1998 Jacq and Lyn joined the 1st Congregational church. They also joined the organization now called the Chippewa Vally Learning in Retirement, the Shirley Doane Senior Center, and Wisconsin Woodland Owners organizations. He became a volunteer for Stepping Stones, providing transportation to disabled persons to medical appointments and the Veteran Administration hospital. He served on the board of the Learning in Retirement organization, for which he led Foreign Affairs discussions jointly with Marvin Lansing and led discussion sessions of books on current matters jointly with David Cook. He also served on the board of the Senior Center.

Jacq and close friend Frank Burdick began to have breakfast together frequently, followed by playing chess. Other men asked to come too, but just for breakfast, and a few for chess also. Soon it became a group called the Men's Oatmeal Breakfast Club. Jacq also became a part of a group of men having lunch often at the Acoustic Cafe. Jacq and Lyn also enjoyed traveling, especially to the British Isles with close friends Drs. Tony and Barbara Way, and in the U.S, and to Alaska with Ralph and Beth Gray .Independantly or with their sons, they travelled to Canada frequently, and had trips to England, Scotland, Germany, Prague, Budapest, Japan, Korea, and Hawaii.

Jacq was preceded in death by his parents, three siblings, Imogen, Walter, and James, who died in childhood, and in 2022 by his brother Donald Edmund Collins. He is survived by his wife Natalyn (Lyn) of Boyceville, and two sons, James Dexter Collins of Boyceville and the Rev. Dr. Sterrett Joel Collins, of Cobden, Illinois. He is also survived by his brother Wallace Collins (Ina Mae) of Kenaston, Sask, Canada, and Sister-in-Law Lois Collins in Winnipeg, MB, Canada as well as many nieces and nephews in Canada.

Jacq’s memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday April 27th at First Congregation Church in Menomonie, WI. Visitation will be held for one hour preceding the service. Burial of ashes will follow immediately after the service in the church memorial garden. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the First Congregational church, the Shirley Doane Senior Center, or Stepping Stones of Menomonie would be especially appreciated by the family.

The memorial service will be livestreamed by First Congregational Church https://vimeo.com/event/4237463/d26945cf99