John Patrick Collins

April 16th, 1952 - July 24th, 2019

Memorial

Mementos

Loved Ones

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am not now separated from you, only invisible to you. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was; let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well my Friends. All is well.

John Patrick Collins, of Rio Rancho, passed away July 24th, 2019 after an inspiring 15-year battle with cancer. He was 67. He will be remembered for his loving devotion to his family, his strong-will and integrity, and his penchant for self-sacrifice with all his relationships.Born in Williamsburg, Kansas April 16th, 1952 as the third child to and eldest son of Charles Louis and Monica Collins. He was raised on his family dairy farm near Williamsburg, KS with his eight siblings: Monica Kathleen (Kathy), Rose Marie (Marie), Regina, Thomas (Tom), Joan, Timothy (Tim), Margaret (Peggy), and Leo.

John spent his years up until college on the family dairy farm. Upon graduating High School in Williamsburg, KS where he played football and was named home-coming King, John went on to attend Emporia State University for college. There John became a member of the Araria Fraternity, became a popular voice within campus student government, discovered a love of Literature, and developed a talent for writing poetry. While John would graduate with a Bachelors of the Arts in Biology, his love of reading, history, and poetry would last a life-time.

John's college years were filled with new-found life experiences and accelerated self-discovery, yet those years were also bookended by tragedy within his family. Early into his college term, his mother Monica passed away from Lung cancer (1971), leaving his father emotionally devastated. And shortly following his senior year graduation, a tornado struck at his father's farm destroying the house along with several key structures. Learning of it, John would then withdraw from Naval Officer training to return home to help his father and siblings re-build.

With the Navy no longer a viable option for him, John would enroll into a Paramedic training class an hour away from the farm. The class was highly-competitive; not all who entered graduated. And though not even having reliable transportation for much of the time, and while still assisting with farm-duties, John graduated near the top of his class.

Upon receiving his paramedic license and after working a few years in Lawrence, KS, John set off on some memorable cross-country road-trips where he sought out vistas of the stars, sunsets, space-shuttle launches, and open-skies. Accompanied by his best friend at the time and while driving west from New York, John's car broke down in New Mexico. The two would go on to get jobs as Paramedics in Albuquerque. Enamored by the 'big sky country' and colorful sunsets, John would later go on to settle permanently in what he considered the most beautiful land in the nation: the Great Southwest.

As John's luck would have it, he would soon after meet the woman who would eventually become his beloved wife, Myong Hee Min. Intruduced by a mutual friend, John would see Myong and instantly fall for her long hair, personal style, and beauty. Myong would later admit that she could not resist John's beautiful blue eyes. They would return to Kansas to marry at St. Patrick's Emerald Church surrounded by family and with the blessing of his father and his new mother-in-law, Charlene. Together as a pair, John and Myong would go on to raise a family of three children; two daughters and one son.

Though John relocated to Albuquerque, NM in his early 20’s, he always held a strong affinity for his birthplace, and returned often with his wife and children to visit with Charles & Charlene, his siblings, and other local family through the years.

John spent his 40+ year career using his emergency medical training in New Mexico pioneering roles at Presbyterian Air Ambulance, UNM Lifeguard Flight Team, Albuquerque Ambulance Service, and finally, with UNM Medical Center's 'Rapid Response' team. According to those he worked with, he will be remembered as "a legend" within the Albuquerque medical community where his connections run both wide and deep.

Throughout his life, John touched many lives with his devotion to helping others, his unyielding work ethic & reliability, and his unique mixture of kindness, humor and understanding in interactions with patients and partners alike.

John always wanted his final resting place to be upon the hill at St. Patrick’s Cemetary; where he could take in the cool breeze flowing over the countryside and be at peace alongside his father and mother, and other members of his family that have also gone with God.

John is survived by his wife Myong, and his children, Lisa, Monika, and Jack. The world will be a little less bright without his kind spirit and charming smile. He will be deeply missed.