In Memory of

Class of 1967
Feb 17, 1949 - May 23, 2026

COLLINS James J. “Jim”, Age 77 of Plymouth, MN, James J. “Jim” Collins died May 23rd, 2026 after a 4.5 year “adventure” (his words) with pancreatic cancer. Jim was born and raised in St. Paul, graduating from Highland Park Senior High where he lettered in Wrestling. He served in the US Army in South Korea with the United Nations Command/United States Forces Korea J4 Division (UNC/USFK J4) during the Vietnam War era, reaching the rank of SP5 (E-5) and earning a Joint Service Commendation Medal. Jim was certified as a PADI and YMCA scuba instructor and taught classes in St. Paul, MN; Duluth, MN; Baraboo, WI; and Dubuque, IA. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a BS in Chemistry, followed by a Masters degree in Industrial Safety. After graduating, he started work at General Mills as a Safety Intern with no possibility of a full-time job. 31 years later, he retired from General Mills as the Manager of Global Safety. Jim was a true safety professional and became certified as a CSP (Certified Safety Profession) and a CIH (Certified Industrial Hygienist). While at General Mills, Jim met his future wife – Nancy Rosscup. Together they had 2 sons, Kenneth and Jonathan. Jim and Nancy enjoyed traveling and took summer vacations with the boys to visit much of the US and some of Canada. After retirement, Jim and Nancy traveled extensively, both domestically and internationally, seeing sights, experiencing new cultures, and meeting new people. He was preceded in death by his father, James J. Collins; step-mother, Edie Collins; mother, Elizabeth Lee Tambornino; step-father, James P. Tambornino; and half-brother, Michael J. Collins. Survivors include his wife, Nancy Rosscup; sons, Kenneth (wife, Chelsy) and Jonathan; and grandchildren, Arthur, Charles, and Edmund. Jim will be interred at Acacia Park Cemetery, alongside his mother and grandparents.

A celebration of life will be held June 27th, 2026 from 1pm to 4pm at Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, 3131 Campus Drive, Plymouth, MN 55441.