Ira L Collins

Ira L. Collins, age 87, of Knoxville, Illinois formerly of Kankakee, Illinois died at 8:33 AM on Friday, December 13, 2024, with his family by his side in Knoxville, Illinois. He was born on June 30, 1937, in Olathe, Kansas, the son of Ira L. and Mary Ruth (Ayers) Collins, Sr. He married Gay Keating on December 30, 1956, in Nevada, Missouri. Mr. Collins leaves behind his wife of 68 years of marriage on December 30 th , Gay Collins of Knoxville, Illinois; four sons: Rick (Gina) Collins of Kankakee, Illinois, Randy (Cristal) Collins of Tuscola, Texas, Ronnie (Lauren) Collins of Everett, Pennsylvania, and Roy (Jessica) Collins; two brothers, Bill (Ginnie) Collins of Missouri, David Collins of Missouri, and one sister, Cathy Spurgeon of Oklahoma; ten grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Shirley Franklin. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. He received his Bachelor Degree in Human Relations/Psychology and Master’s Degree in Special Education/Administration; then received his Illinois Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Mr. Collins’ work experience began as an entry level hospital attendant at a Missouri State Operated facility in January 1956. During his first five years, he functioned as a direct care worker and based on personal initiative and leadership skills, he received a promotion to an activity therapy position which involved performing supervisory responsibilities and providing direct services for individuals. In 1961, Mr. Collins was recruited and subsequently transferred to another State Operated facility that served over 3,000 individuals. At this time, he received a promotion and served as the Assistant Director of a large multifaceted Activity Therapy Department. From this point on in his career he had been enhanced with numerous promotions that involved increased responsibility for evaluating, planning, implementing, and directing services for people. In 1964, Mr. Collins’ career emphasis expanded when he was selected to serve in a dual role as a Residential Services Director responsible for administrating and directing a 400-bed residential unit and serving as the overall Program Director for three Missouri State Schools. Mr. Collins’ responsibilities as the Program Director included directing all programs and services for the individuals who lived at these three state schools. During the last nine years of employment for the State of Missouri, Mr. Collins worked full-time to support his wife and four sons and attended college on a part-time basis in order to earn his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees. Mr. Collins’ 15 years of work for the State of Missouri culminated with the role as State Director of the Special Olympics in 1969 and 1970. Mr. Collins had the privilege of organizing, implementing, and directing the first Special Olympics program for the State of Missouri. Mr. Colins’ work as State Director of Special Olympics for the State of Missouri and the successful outcomes of this organization were highly publicized in the news media including television interviews, radio interviews, and newspaper coverage. Mr. Collins was successful in involving over 6,000 individuals with developmental disabilities from across the State of Missouri in these Special Olympics programs. Special Olympians participated in the 10 regional Special Olympics, the state tournament, and the Chicago International games. In 1970, Mr. Collins was recruited by the State of Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and selected to serve as the Illinois State Program Coordinator for individuals with a developmental disability. Mr. Collins’ responsibilities involved the provision of administrative direction to State Operated Developmental Centers pertaining to organizational structure, program development, habilitation planning, accountability systems, staffing, budget, and business practices. In 1971, his leadership skills and accomplishments were recognized by receipt of the Governors Superior Achievement Award. Mr. Collins positive involvement with service providers throughout the state, with DMHDD leaders, parents, and individuals along with the achievement of established outcomes led to greater responsibilities. In 1971, the Department of Mental Health and Disabilities requested that Mr. Collins accept another assignment that involved a promotion. This assignment was to assist DMHDD address overcrowding conditions and a waiting list consisting of individuals with a developmental disability who were not receiving services. Mr. Collins’ assignment was to develop specialized residential units at the Kankakee State Hospital to serve people with a development disability. Mr. Collins accepted this promotion and left the DMHDD Central Office to accept an assignment as the Director for developmental disability services at the Kankakee State Hospital. On May 10, 1973, Dr. Leroy P. Levitt, the new Director of DMHDD came to Kankakee to determine the future of the Kankakee State Hospital. At this time the mental health services at Kankakee were recognized as grossly inadequate. The hospital staff encouraged Dr. Levitt to interview Mr. Collins before making a decision on the Hospital’s future. Dr. Levitt and his staff conducted a lengthy interview with Mr. Collins and offered him a challenge to convert the Kankakee State Hospital to a residential and training center that served people with developmental disabilities. This conversion was to occur within a 12-month time period. Mr. Collins was charged with the responsibility of successfully and appropriately relocating 1405 persons with a mental illness and, during the same time period successfully and appropriately transferring into Shapiro 830 individuals with developmental disabilities from other inappropriate settings. This major challenge involved a total reorganization of the facility, retraining all staff, developing and implementing policies and procedures, accountability systems, implementing program development systems, habilitation planning, staffing plans, and much more. The DMHDD Director indicated that if a successful transition did not occur in a 12-month period he would close the Kankakee facility and explore other options. With the full support and commitment of the Kankakee employees they met the challenge of successfully completing the conversion of the Kankakee facility in the required 12-month time period. At this time, Dr. Levitt appointed Mr. Collins as the Acting Director of the newly converted Kankakee facility. A nationwide search was initiated to identify candidates for the vacant Kankakee Facility Director position. Subsequently interviews were conducted by a large panel of representatives from parent groups, community groups, and major disability organizations. The panel’s role was to recommend a candidate to fill the vacant facility director’s position. The panel recommended Mr. Collins for the Facility Director position and Dr. Levitt appointed him to the Facility Director position in 1974. In conjunction with my responsibilities at Shapiro, in 1986 Mr. Collins was assigned simultaneous duties which included serving in a dual role as the Center Director for Shapiro Center and the Howe Developmental Center. At that time, the Howe Center had been decertified, denied federal reimbursement, and the department of Justice was investigating complaints regarding the safety and well-being of the individuals who resided at the Howe Developmental Center. With the full support and commitment of the Howe staff in 1986, they were successful in regaining federal recertification and the return of Federal funding for the operations of the Howe Center. In doing so, the Department of Justice investigators indicated that they were satisfied that the Howe Center was moving in the right direction. The Department of Justice closed their case against the Howe Center at this time and a new Center Director was appointed and Mr. Collins returned to Shapiro Center. From 1987-1991, Mt. Collins was promoted and served as the Deputy Director for the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. This included the responsibility for achieving improvement at the Mental Health facilities and the Developmental Centers located in Northern Illinois. Major improvements were achieved at the Developmental Centers and the Mental Health facilities during my tenure. All the developmental centers had achieved federal certification and were receiving federal reimbursement to the State Treasury. A number of the Mental Health facilities also achieved accreditation standards. In addition, accountability standards in all the facilities were dramatically strengthened, and services to individuals were greatly improved. From Mr. Collins return in 1991 to his retirement, he served as the Center Director for the Shapiro Center. In addition to all the other assignments and responsibilities over the years, Mr. Collins had successfully provided administrative direction for operations at the Shapiro Center for over 42 years. After the conversion of the facility, Shapiro achieved and has maintained continuous and full compliance with Federal and State regulations that are required for federal certification and reimbursement for services. Shapiro has also achieved and maintained continuous National and International accreditation standards of excellent. He moved to Knoxville, Illinois in March of 2021 to live with his son and daughter- in-law who became his caregiver for the past thirty-two months. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, December 20, 2024, and 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Schreffler Funeral Homes in Kankakee, Illinois, with a funeral service at 1:00 P.M. He will be laid to rest at Limestone Cemetery in Limestone Twp, Illinois. Rev. Zachary Hunter will officiate. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association.

Ira L Collins

June 30, 1937 - December 13, 2024

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Ira L Collins

June 30, 1937 - December 13, 2024

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