Joe Collard was a long-time knight and his contributions to Council 11293 will be long remembered. He was honored with the First Degree on August 1, 1967 and with the major degrees on September 1, 1967. He became a Fourth Degree Knight on October 1, 1968.
Joe was the council Treasurer for several years and the Church Committee Chair for several years. He was a significant contributor to the Clergy Dinner and the Golf committees. He ran the Christmas Tree sales every year, expanding the offerings to include Christmas yard signs as well as trees.
Joe was a Fourth Degree Knight and a member of the Color Corps. He received many awards and recruited many men to the Knights, but he was most proud when his five sons received their fourth degree on the same day.
Joe initiated programs and made things happen. He was a unique individual and will be greatly missed.
Joseph Eugene Collard Jr. was born August 22, 1949 in Topeka, Kansas to parents Joseph Sr. and Mildred (Dechand) Collard. Joe Collard died peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife and 6 children on September 28, 2020.
Joe Collard, a faithful Catholic, was married for 49 years, had six children who blessed him with fifteen grandchildren. He was passionate about the Knights of Columbus, football, mathematics, and carpentry. Many used the words self-motivated, outgoing, confident, kind, creative, fun loving and hard-working when referring to Joe. He always had words of wisdom for his family. Joe earned a master’s Degree in Statistics in 1977 from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from the University of Dallas in 1982. Joe started out his career as a High School math teacher in Minneola, Kansas.
His first business was Wood ‘n Things by Joe, where he made all kinds of household furniture, much of which is still used by grandkids. He moved to Texas in 1977 to work at Texas Instruments as a Systems Analyst. Following his nine-year tenure at TI, Joe co-founded Martingale Research. After four years Joe continued his entrepreneurial spirit by running Macro Gourmet, a restaurant in Richardson, TX. Joe, alongside his wife, ran this healthy boutique Japanese inspired restaurant for 6 years. Joe returned to teaching math at The Highlands School in Irving, TX for 2 years. After many years, Joe turned his hobby of woodworking into his vocation and started Collard Construction. With the help of his sons, Tobin, and Matthew, he continued serving families “making houses into homes†up through his last days. He always said, “I will never retire because general contracting is my hobbyâ€.
In 1971, Joe married his wife Junilla whom he loved so dearly. He was a wonderful provider and proud father of five sons and one daughter. He enjoyed spoiling his fifteen grandchildren whenever he had the chance. He passed on his love of Nebraska football, mathematics, woodworking and serving with the Knights of Columbus to his children and grandchildren.
Joe and his wife, Junilla, would gather their children and grandchildren once a month for family dinners and he would begin by leading them in prayer, always thanking God for the gift of life. Joe loved the gazebo he built with his kids and grandkids. He always relaxed there once an afternoon of mowing was completed.
Joe is survived by his loving wife Junilla, daughter Michaela Urban, sons Joe Collard and his wife Jill, Dr. Corey Collard and his wife Nadya, Tobin Collard and his wife Heidi, Matthew Collard and his wife Ginger, Adam Collard and his wife Lisa, grandchildren Noah and Nathan Beam, Joe IV, Kate, Lara, Elise, Michael, James, Madison, Luke, Penelope, Daniel, Ian, Marie and Ruth Collard, mother Mildred Dechand Collard, sisters Cathy Harrison, Connie Cooper and her husband Ron, brother John Collard and his wife Janet, father-in-law Richard Gerber, brothers-in-law Dick Gerber and wife Darinda, Brent Gerber and wife Marla, sisters-in-law Cheryl Hicks and husband George, Patty Dunkle and husband Mark and many loving nieces, nephews, parishioners and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Joseph Sr., mother-in-law Helen Gerber, and brother-in-law Lee Harrison. |