Tommy Ree Collins was born on June 10, 1941 in Bancroft, Neb. to Dr. Warnie Ree Collins (DVM) and Ellen B. Mackey Collins. Tom passed at home in the early morning hours of July 16, 2026 at the age of 85.

Funeral Service and Military Honors will be held Friday, July 24th at 10:30 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran, 7th and Locust, Grand Island, Neb., with Pastor Steven Peeler officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23rd from 5 to 7 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Home. Condolences can be left at www.giallfaiths.com

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Messiah Lutheran Church, or Wounded Warriors Project.

Tom excelled in athletics in high school and while attending and graduating from Midland Lutheran College. In high school, he was awarded the Omaha World Herald All State Class C football and basketball and played in the first 1959 Shrine Bowl.

In January of 1964, after the loss of his father he returned home to help his mother settle the family vet business and quarter horses that they raised. He received his draft notice and opted to join the Air Force where he was signed 18 months attending schools for special communications and intelligence. He served in Pakistan for a year, then was transferred to Minot Air Force Base (North Dakota) where he met and married Sonya J. Selle, his love.

Before leaving the Air Force, he was offered a field commission because of his training and background but opted to take an honorable discharge and finish his last year at Midland College in 1969. He joined track, and at 26 years old his teammates called him "old man", he ended up throwing discus and held the school record for seven years. Tom is still listed in the top 10 at Midland.

Following graduation in June of 1969 he was hired by First National Bank of Grand Island as an Ag representative; after 16 years, he took a senior management position at Scribner Bank in Scribner, Neb. In 1990, he went to work for Farmland Industries and in 1995 Tom joined Helena Chemical in Des Moines, Iowa as a district credit manager. Tom was proud of his time at Helena because he developed lending programs. His favorite part at Helena was all the great people he worked with and the customers he met.

In 1979, Husker Harvest Days began, and Tom served on the board, even as president. Since the age of nine, he and his father raised Quarter horses continuing for about 50 years. According to Tom, he quit riding when he turned 75 because "I couldn't bounce like I use to!". Over the years he worked on church councils, school boards, extension boards, Western Heritage Rangers of Arizona, National American Credit Managers, was Grand Island Saddle Club director, a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, a 56-year member of American Legion Post 53 and held season tickets to Nebraska Football since 1964.

Tom liked to hunt, fish, and play golf. He enjoyed Husker Athletics, especially football and volleyball. He and Sonya enjoyed cruising and some favorites were Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal, and the ultimate being Scandinavia Countries.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 58 years, Sonya; son, Colby Ree Collins; daughter, Stacie Jane Collins; the light of his life was his five grandchildren, Broc Collins, Bethany (Andrew) Rheiner, Callie Collins, Marissa Crosby, and Tyler Ree Collins, he loved watching them play sports and being 4-H champions; brother in-law, Leon Selle; cousin, Mary Ellen (Ron) Marshall; nephew, Kevin Selle and nieces, Erika Thiesen and Candice Selle-Salazar.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; parents in-law, Oscar and Leona Selle; brother-in-law, Jerome Selle; sister-in-law, Bethany Selle, and many other relatives and friends.

Published by The Grand Island Independent on Jul. 21, 2026.