Lon McCollum ’88

Lon Eric McCollum, 54, passed away on November 22, 2019 after a short fight against melanoma. He was born on March 11, 1965, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Lonny Stuart and Marian Alice (Nelson) McCollum. Lon was a man of the world; he spent his life exploring the planet and bringing people light along his way; for him, home was where the heart was. Lon was a philosopher; on his travels you would often find him chatting away with a new friend about the meaning of life, usually over an ice-cold beer. Lon was a teacher; he will be remembered through the hundreds of students that he has inspired along the way. He taught his students to love literature and more importantly, that it was okay to always be your kooky self, no judgement. Lon was a jokester; even to the end of his life he made everyone around him laugh, even at the dad jokes. Most importantly Lon was a family man; he loved his tribe to the end of the earth and they loved him back.

His Family… Lon will be missed by his wife, Rachel; his daughter, Indigo; parents, Lon and Marian; brothers, Thad and Matt and his many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.