Eugene C. Collings, age 83, of Hopkins, died Friday, April 29, 2016 at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Mr. Collings was born on April 10, 1933 in Hopkins Township, the son of Ziba and Ruby (Packer) Collings.

Eugene, known to most as Gene, was a 1952 graduate of Hopkins High School. He married the love of his life, Shirley, on Sept. 24, 1955, in Hopkins and have been blessed with more than 60 years together. He was a farmer all of his life and worked for General Motors Company in Grand Rapids for more than 30 years, retiring in 1997.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Korean War. Gene loved the outdoors and being on the farm. Some of his best times were spent cutting wood and fixing the farming equipment.

Gene is survived by his wife, Shirley; his five children: Sherry and Troy Olsen, Eugene Jr. and Janice Collings, Brian and Tina Collings, Jay and Cris Collings, Keith Collings and fiancée Laura Florian; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Betty Anthony.

He was preceded in death by two brothers: Frank Collings and James Collings; and his grandson, Kevin.

Friends may visit with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 2 at Gorden Funeral Residence, Hopkins Chapel, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, Pastor Lavern Lussenden officiating. Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery, Hopkins Township.

Memorial donations may be made in Gene’s name to Hopkins Future Farmers of America.