Nedra Gerke Collins

3/22/1950 - 4/12/2023

Nedra Gerke Collins of Portage, age 73, passed away April 12, 2023. She was born March 22, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Kenneth Lyle and Lorraine Virginia (Pierce) Gerke.

Nedra became a Nurse before she was 20 and was very driven.  She became a House Supervisor at 22 in Cadillac.  She helped start several programs, including a children's health program in Salt Lake City and a family practice in Chicago.  She returned to Kalamazoo to help start up the Burn Unit in Bronson Hospital and stayed until her eventual retirement as a Vice-President in the Bronson Healthcare Group.

Nedra was united in marriage to Philip Collins in Kalamazoo on January 14, 1993. They had 27 memorable years together as husband and wife before his passing in 2020. She was also preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Richard Gerke.

She is survived by a brother, David (Brenda) Gerke; two nieces, Sarah and Jessica; and sister-in-law, Mary Lou Gerke of Paw Paw.

The family will greet friends Thursday April 27, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:30 at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.

Donations in Nedra’s memory may be made to Bronson Trauma and Emergency Services Fund and will be designated to the Burn Unit she helped start.