Cager Cencil Collins, 86, of Davenport, died Friday, December 29, 2006, at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus.
Cager was born on June 29, 1920, at his home in Doyle Township, Clarke County, Iowa. He was the third child born to John Silas and Malissa Ellen (Wilson) Collins. He was united in marriage to Marcia Maxine (Smith) Collins, daughter of Roy and Mildred (Perkins) Smith on June 8, 1946, at the Assembly of God Church in Geneseo, Ill. She preceded him in death on May 17, 1982.
Cager lived for a short time in Clarke County, IA. Then his parents moved to Des Moines, where his father got a job working for Wood Brothers Threshing Machines. After his father was injured and laid off his family moved back to Richland Township in Decatur County, Iowa, where Cager grew up. Cager considered Grand River, Iowa, his hometown. Cager attended several schools in the area of Richland township including, Denham, Beaconsfield, and Brady schools. The Brick School was the main elementary school that he attended. Cager and his family moved to the Quad Cities area due the economic hardships of The Depression. They lived for a short while in Milan, Ill., and then they settled in Geneseo, Ill.
On December 28th, 1942, Cager signed up for the Army and was inducted on January 5, 1943. He went to basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Ill. He was assigned to the Army Corps. of Engineers and then was sent to Bangor, Maine, for specialist training in building bridges and roads. By September 9, 1943, he was sent to India and Burma. He arrived by ship October 12, 1943. For the next 26 months, Cager served in Company A as a mechanic with the 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion who helped make the Burma Road connecting India and China so that military troops and supplies could be transported easily through the jungle. This was also referred to as Stillwell's road. Cager and the other mechanics kept the Army Vehicles and Road Construction machines working. Cager was shipped back to the U.S.A. on December 12, 1945. He arrived back in the U.S. on January 3, 1946. On January 7, 1946, he was Honorably discharged from the Army back at Camp Grant. He was a member of VFW Post 728.
Cager worked at the Poultry House of Geneseo. Before he entered the U.S. Army, he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for a time. After the Army he worked at the Arsenal again. Altogether Cager put in three years at the Arsenal. Cager used his GI Bill of Rights to get Mechanic's Training. He owned and operated Ken's Garage in Joslin, Ill. for a time.
He worked for over 27 years at three different foundries. First he worked for Farmall/International Harvester for 12 years, beginning in 1955. Then he worked at John Deere as a Millwright for a short time. In 1968, he went to work for Frank's Foundry, and was employed there for 15 years. He took retirement in 1983. Cager had various other jobs over the years. He worked as a farm hand. He worked at Standard Oil Gas Station, Hedman-Anderson Lumber, and Worth Plumbing and Heating.
Those left to honor his memory include, his children and their spouses, Sharon Cima, Lyndon, Ill., Kenneth and Janise Collins, Somonauk, Ill., Joline and Kenneth Madden, Davenport, Bonnie and Henry Arrington, Rock Island, Nancy and Mark Ladd, Independence, Mo., Carol and Thomas Cunningham, Sr., Davenport, Malissa Collins, Rochelle, Ill., David and Betty Collins, Freeport, Ill.; sisters, Mary Blau, Sheffield, Iowa, Sarah Jaquet, Toluca, Ill., and Ethel Hammrick, Fla.; brother, John Collins, Wichita, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Maxine, his parents, granddaughter, Rebekah LaBolle, sisters, Opal Richardson and June Woods, brothers, Earl Collins and Edward Collins.
(Quad-City Times, 12/31/2006)
Cager was born on June 29, 1920, at his home in Doyle Township, Clarke County, Iowa. He was the third child born to John Silas and Malissa Ellen (Wilson) Collins. He was united in marriage to Marcia Maxine (Smith) Collins, daughter of Roy and Mildred (Perkins) Smith on June 8, 1946, at the Assembly of God Church in Geneseo, Ill. She preceded him in death on May 17, 1982.
Cager lived for a short time in Clarke County, IA. Then his parents moved to Des Moines, where his father got a job working for Wood Brothers Threshing Machines. After his father was injured and laid off his family moved back to Richland Township in Decatur County, Iowa, where Cager grew up. Cager considered Grand River, Iowa, his hometown. Cager attended several schools in the area of Richland township including, Denham, Beaconsfield, and Brady schools. The Brick School was the main elementary school that he attended. Cager and his family moved to the Quad Cities area due the economic hardships of The Depression. They lived for a short while in Milan, Ill., and then they settled in Geneseo, Ill.
On December 28th, 1942, Cager signed up for the Army and was inducted on January 5, 1943. He went to basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Ill. He was assigned to the Army Corps. of Engineers and then was sent to Bangor, Maine, for specialist training in building bridges and roads. By September 9, 1943, he was sent to India and Burma. He arrived by ship October 12, 1943. For the next 26 months, Cager served in Company A as a mechanic with the 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion who helped make the Burma Road connecting India and China so that military troops and supplies could be transported easily through the jungle. This was also referred to as Stillwell's road. Cager and the other mechanics kept the Army Vehicles and Road Construction machines working. Cager was shipped back to the U.S.A. on December 12, 1945. He arrived back in the U.S. on January 3, 1946. On January 7, 1946, he was Honorably discharged from the Army back at Camp Grant. He was a member of VFW Post 728.
Cager worked at the Poultry House of Geneseo. Before he entered the U.S. Army, he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for a time. After the Army he worked at the Arsenal again. Altogether Cager put in three years at the Arsenal. Cager used his GI Bill of Rights to get Mechanic's Training. He owned and operated Ken's Garage in Joslin, Ill. for a time.
He worked for over 27 years at three different foundries. First he worked for Farmall/International Harvester for 12 years, beginning in 1955. Then he worked at John Deere as a Millwright for a short time. In 1968, he went to work for Frank's Foundry, and was employed there for 15 years. He took retirement in 1983. Cager had various other jobs over the years. He worked as a farm hand. He worked at Standard Oil Gas Station, Hedman-Anderson Lumber, and Worth Plumbing and Heating.
Those left to honor his memory include, his children and their spouses, Sharon Cima, Lyndon, Ill., Kenneth and Janise Collins, Somonauk, Ill., Joline and Kenneth Madden, Davenport, Bonnie and Henry Arrington, Rock Island, Nancy and Mark Ladd, Independence, Mo., Carol and Thomas Cunningham, Sr., Davenport, Malissa Collins, Rochelle, Ill., David and Betty Collins, Freeport, Ill.; sisters, Mary Blau, Sheffield, Iowa, Sarah Jaquet, Toluca, Ill., and Ethel Hammrick, Fla.; brother, John Collins, Wichita, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Maxine, his parents, granddaughter, Rebekah LaBolle, sisters, Opal Richardson and June Woods, brothers, Earl Collins and Edward Collins.
(Quad-City Times, 12/31/2006)
Cager Cencil Collins, 86, of Davenport, died Friday, December 29, 2006, at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus.
Cager was born on June 29, 1920, at his home in Doyle Township, Clarke County, Iowa. He was the third child born to John Silas and Malissa Ellen (Wilson) Collins. He was united in marriage to Marcia Maxine (Smith) Collins, daughter of Roy and Mildred (Perkins) Smith on June 8, 1946, at the Assembly of God Church in Geneseo, Ill. She preceded him in death on May 17, 1982.
Cager lived for a short time in Clarke County, IA. Then his parents moved to Des Moines, where his father got a job working for Wood Brothers Threshing Machines. After his father was injured and laid off his family moved back to Richland Township in Decatur County, Iowa, where Cager grew up. Cager considered Grand River, Iowa, his hometown. Cager attended several schools in the area of Richland township including, Denham, Beaconsfield, and Brady schools. The Brick School was the main elementary school that he attended. Cager and his family moved to the Quad Cities area due the economic hardships of The Depression. They lived for a short while in Milan, Ill., and then they settled in Geneseo, Ill.
On December 28th, 1942, Cager signed up for the Army and was inducted on January 5, 1943. He went to basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Ill. He was assigned to the Army Corps. of Engineers and then was sent to Bangor, Maine, for specialist training in building bridges and roads. By September 9, 1943, he was sent to India and Burma. He arrived by ship October 12, 1943. For the next 26 months, Cager served in Company A as a mechanic with the 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion who helped make the Burma Road connecting India and China so that military troops and supplies could be transported easily through the jungle. This was also referred to as Stillwell's road. Cager and the other mechanics kept the Army Vehicles and Road Construction machines working. Cager was shipped back to the U.S.A. on December 12, 1945. He arrived back in the U.S. on January 3, 1946. On January 7, 1946, he was Honorably discharged from the Army back at Camp Grant. He was a member of VFW Post 728.
Cager worked at the Poultry House of Geneseo. Before he entered the U.S. Army, he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for a time. After the Army he worked at the Arsenal again. Altogether Cager put in three years at the Arsenal. Cager used his GI Bill of Rights to get Mechanic's Training. He owned and operated Ken's Garage in Joslin, Ill. for a time.
He worked for over 27 years at three different foundries. First he worked for Farmall/International Harvester for 12 years, beginning in 1955. Then he worked at John Deere as a Millwright for a short time. In 1968, he went to work for Frank's Foundry, and was employed there for 15 years. He took retirement in 1983. Cager had various other jobs over the years. He worked as a farm hand. He worked at Standard Oil Gas Station, Hedman-Anderson Lumber, and Worth Plumbing and Heating.
Those left to honor his memory include, his children and their spouses, Sharon Cima, Lyndon, Ill., Kenneth and Janise Collins, Somonauk, Ill., Joline and Kenneth Madden, Davenport, Bonnie and Henry Arrington, Rock Island, Nancy and Mark Ladd, Independence, Mo., Carol and Thomas Cunningham, Sr., Davenport, Malissa Collins, Rochelle, Ill., David and Betty Collins, Freeport, Ill.; sisters, Mary Blau, Sheffield, Iowa, Sarah Jaquet, Toluca, Ill., and Ethel Hammrick, Fla.; brother, John Collins, Wichita, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Maxine, his parents, granddaughter, Rebekah LaBolle, sisters, Opal Richardson and June Woods, brothers, Earl Collins and Edward Collins.
(Quad-City Times, 12/31/2006)
Cager was born on June 29, 1920, at his home in Doyle Township, Clarke County, Iowa. He was the third child born to John Silas and Malissa Ellen (Wilson) Collins. He was united in marriage to Marcia Maxine (Smith) Collins, daughter of Roy and Mildred (Perkins) Smith on June 8, 1946, at the Assembly of God Church in Geneseo, Ill. She preceded him in death on May 17, 1982.
Cager lived for a short time in Clarke County, IA. Then his parents moved to Des Moines, where his father got a job working for Wood Brothers Threshing Machines. After his father was injured and laid off his family moved back to Richland Township in Decatur County, Iowa, where Cager grew up. Cager considered Grand River, Iowa, his hometown. Cager attended several schools in the area of Richland township including, Denham, Beaconsfield, and Brady schools. The Brick School was the main elementary school that he attended. Cager and his family moved to the Quad Cities area due the economic hardships of The Depression. They lived for a short while in Milan, Ill., and then they settled in Geneseo, Ill.
On December 28th, 1942, Cager signed up for the Army and was inducted on January 5, 1943. He went to basic training at Camp Grant near Rockford, Ill. He was assigned to the Army Corps. of Engineers and then was sent to Bangor, Maine, for specialist training in building bridges and roads. By September 9, 1943, he was sent to India and Burma. He arrived by ship October 12, 1943. For the next 26 months, Cager served in Company A as a mechanic with the 1905th Engineer Aviation Battalion who helped make the Burma Road connecting India and China so that military troops and supplies could be transported easily through the jungle. This was also referred to as Stillwell's road. Cager and the other mechanics kept the Army Vehicles and Road Construction machines working. Cager was shipped back to the U.S.A. on December 12, 1945. He arrived back in the U.S. on January 3, 1946. On January 7, 1946, he was Honorably discharged from the Army back at Camp Grant. He was a member of VFW Post 728.
Cager worked at the Poultry House of Geneseo. Before he entered the U.S. Army, he worked at the Rock Island Arsenal for a time. After the Army he worked at the Arsenal again. Altogether Cager put in three years at the Arsenal. Cager used his GI Bill of Rights to get Mechanic's Training. He owned and operated Ken's Garage in Joslin, Ill. for a time.
He worked for over 27 years at three different foundries. First he worked for Farmall/International Harvester for 12 years, beginning in 1955. Then he worked at John Deere as a Millwright for a short time. In 1968, he went to work for Frank's Foundry, and was employed there for 15 years. He took retirement in 1983. Cager had various other jobs over the years. He worked as a farm hand. He worked at Standard Oil Gas Station, Hedman-Anderson Lumber, and Worth Plumbing and Heating.
Those left to honor his memory include, his children and their spouses, Sharon Cima, Lyndon, Ill., Kenneth and Janise Collins, Somonauk, Ill., Joline and Kenneth Madden, Davenport, Bonnie and Henry Arrington, Rock Island, Nancy and Mark Ladd, Independence, Mo., Carol and Thomas Cunningham, Sr., Davenport, Malissa Collins, Rochelle, Ill., David and Betty Collins, Freeport, Ill.; sisters, Mary Blau, Sheffield, Iowa, Sarah Jaquet, Toluca, Ill., and Ethel Hammrick, Fla.; brother, John Collins, Wichita, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Maxine, his parents, granddaughter, Rebekah LaBolle, sisters, Opal Richardson and June Woods, brothers, Earl Collins and Edward Collins.
(Quad-City Times, 12/31/2006)
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