Joseph P. Colling, age 87, of McCook, NE passed away on Monday, January 11, 2021.

Joe was born March 17, 1933 in rural Red Willow County to parents Bernard and Helen “Nellie” M. (Kennedy) Colling. He was one of eleven siblings. Joe attended school in McCook, graduating from McCook High School with the Class of 1951.

In 1955, Joe enlisted in the United States Navy. During his military service, Joe obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He served on the USS Boston, at the United States Naval Training Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, on the USS Edmonds, USS Cowell, USS Sampson, at the Naval Communications Station, Fort Allen, Puerto Rico, on the USS Detroit and at the Readiness Support Group, Little Creek, Virginia. While in Puerto Rico, Joe served as the Catholic Lay Leader for U.S. Communication Station in Fort Allen because of his exemplary example of his Catholic Faith. Throughout Joe’s military career, he received good conduct medals and a National Defense Medal.

On June 22, 1963, Joe married the love of his life, Eileen M. (Reller) Colling. The couple became the proud parents of five children.

After retirement from the military in 1976, Joe was employed by Houston Lighting and Power as an electrician at the South Texas Nuclear Plant in Matagorda County, TX. Upon retirement, he and his wife Eileen relocated to McCook, a place they called home until his death. Joe was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Joe was preceded in death by his daughter, Monica Lecon only four months ago; grandson, Joshua Lecon; parents, Bernard (Helen) Colling; siblings, Harlan (Rosemary) Colling, Helen Martin, Catherine (Anton) Blume, George Colling, Jerald Colling, Francis (Mary) Colling, Richard (Alfreda) Colling, John Colling, Bernadine (Raymond) Ritter, and Eugene Colling.

Those left to celebrate his life include his wife, Eileen Colling of McCook; children, Maureen Colling of Greeley, CO, Richard (Lisa) Colling of Pflugerville, TX, Kathleen (Al) Jones of Commerce City, CO, and Karen (Patrick) Stolz of Cheyenne, WY; son in law, Adam Lecon of Yoakum, TX; sister in law, Dorothy Colling of Omaha, NE; grandchildren, Jennifer (Jeremiah Rairdon, Alyssa (Brent) Parker, Jeremy (Alyssa) Lecon, Bobby (Mallory) Sawyer, Jacinta (Alan) Moeller, Juliana Lecon, Angela Stolz, Al Jones, Jr. and Leilani Jones; great grandchildren, Cheyenne, Christian, Carline, Colton, Colby, Bentley, Joshua, Kadilaya, River, Tyler, Elliott, Everlee, Sofia and Ronin; as well as numerous nieces and nephews family members.