He was born to Clement and Virginia Collard in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 6, 1938. He lived in Texas since 1974 and was a resident of The Woodlands since 1997.
Joe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. He was joyfully married to the former Rita Paulsen from 1962 until her passing in 2019. He was a wonderful husband who demonstrated to the world what a real man should strive to be. As a father, his children had both a strong support system and a fun playmate, be it fishing at Lake Livingston, drawing and playing games or a history of telling the world’s worst dad jokes (long before it was cool). Despite living most of his adult years in Texas, he never abandoned his life-long allegiance to the Green Bay Packers – an issue of pride still very much alive in his family.
As a boy, Joe was very active in scouting, having earned his Eagle Award with the palms. He was also the Lodge Chief and received the Vigil honor for the Order of the Arrow. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human relations from Missouri Valley College, followed by several post-graduate courses in business. He served on active duty with the Army for three years.
In the professional world, Joe had a very successful career and held executive positions with Anadarko, Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation and was a partner of Spencer Stuart which afforded him the opportunity to travel to more than 40 countries. He worked tremendously hard but never let it overtake what he knew was most important: family. He and Rita were living in The Netherlands at the time of his retirement which proved to be a wonderful final springboard for all the traveling they loved to do. The world was his oyster in every way.
Throughout his life, Joe was actively engaged in painting and participated in art groups which afforded opportunities to paint in several states as well as abroad.
He was also a devout Catholic and an active member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands.
He is survived by his three daughters and their families: Chris Johnson and her husband Scott of Oshkosh, WI and their daughter Taylor of Minneapolis, MN; Laura Hickman and her husband Tom of Houston, TX, their son Benjamin and his wife Alexzandra and their daughter, Freya, of Houston, TX, and their son Cade and his wife Jenna of Flagstaff, AZ; his daughter Colleen Stelmaszek and her husband Mark and their sons Ian and Noah, all of Houston.
A visitation will be held on September 30th from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Dignity Memorial Forest Park funeral home (18000 I-45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384). A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on October 1st at 11:30am at St. Anthony of Padua's, Our Lady of the Angels Chapel (8715 Kuykendahl Road, Spring, Texas 77382). A rosary will be said prior to the funeral service at 11:00am for all who wish to join.
In lieu of flowers, Joe asks that contributions be made to Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.
