John M. Collyard

John M. Collyard age 78 of Hibbing passed away Saturday, May 18, 2024, at St.

Mary’s in Duluth. He was born on September 14, 1945, in Hibbing to Carlo and Siiri (Hepola) Collyard. John was a 1963 graduate of Hibbing High School,

following graduation, he went to technical college in Hibbing to be a diesel

mechanic and worked for Rhude Ford of Hibbing before starting a 25-year career

at the Hibbing Taconite Company, retiring as a heavy equipment mechanic. John

loved being out at the cabin, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, working on his hot-

rods, playing old time rock and roll music as a bass guitar player and watching

classic movies with old cars in them. John retired when he was 60 from Hibbing

Taconite Company and was able to spend many years working on his old cars and

telling stories with good friends. John is survived by his first wife, Betty Koski

and their two sons, Daren (Karlyn Schiltz and son Sam Saccoman) Collyard, and

Brian (Anna Bryan) Collyard, nephews and nieces Mark (Shelli Edwards)

Collyard, Pam Collyard, Lynn Hachey, Cindy and Jon Turkula, Shannon Seeba,

Ryan (Miae) Seeba, Jeremy Collyard. He was preceded in death by his parents,

Siiri and Carlo, brothers, Louis, Dewey and Carl “Corky” Collyard. Celebration of

Life will be held on Saturday, June 1st at Palmers Tavern from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.

John’s family would like to extend their gratitude to St. Mary’s for the care, compassion and making him feel comfortable and pain-free before his passing.