Collin Thomas Folk

Collin Thomas Folk was born on April 24, 1995 and was taken from us on September 11, 2021.  Who was Collin Folk?  He was a musician, loving all music whether listening or creating it.  He was a metal worker, in his final year of apprenticeship in Sheet Metal Local 33 and was proud of being a top student.  He was a talented videographer and photographer filming weddings, commercials, ads and nature.  He was an animal lover, or I should say he was loved by all animals since a child.  He petted a fox at the park, approached a grown moose and had a herd of mountain goat gather by him as if they knew he was a safe human to be near.  He was a woodworker, making beautiful inlaid skateboards and furniture.  He was an artist, talented in so many areas.  He loved to learn as well as teach others.  He was a peacekeeper, keeping family connected no matter what the problem.  He was a friend.  Or, as they say, he collected friends, especially “all the Alex’s”.  He never met a stranger, just another friend for his collection.  He never had an ex, just someone who was still a friend.  He was a grandson, loved being with them as much as he could.  He was a brother.  Ornery at times, loving at others, but always in awe of his older siblings. He was a son, the one we were told we could not have, but fought to bring into this world.  He was the brightness in our family, the silent one who listened and the one who would calm us back down in a crisis.  He was our baby, our friend, our completeness of our family.  He lived so much, with so much love and happiness in his 26 years.  He had so much more to show this world and was taken from us too soon.  We will never forget him and the lessons and love he shared with us all.

Collin was a 2013 multi honor graduate of Clay High School, with an emphasis in CADD and engineering prep.  He attended the University of Toledo, but was bored.  At the encouragement of Jim Wortketter, he found his carrier path in the trades bringing his love of building and artistry in to metal fabrication.  He worked for Waterville Sheet Metal as a first year apprentice and was recently hired by GEM to develop shop drawings.  

He was also a videographer who filmed many weddings from Chicago to St. Thomas, USVI.  He was a commercial photographer, working on print ads for local companies.  His greatest joy was photographing nature and his friends. He loved travel, camping, and exploring including a week long ‘roughing it’ trip to Colorado, trespassing on abandoned architecture, and a solo jungle hike in Costa Rica. His next goal was a visit to Japan.

He collected pets as well as bugs, axolotls, a tortoise and a boa being recent ones.  His friends and family were his greatest joys and he was always getting together for pizza or cocktails with them.

He leaves behind so many loved ones.  His parents, Lynn (Lytle) and Michael Folk, siblings Chelsea and David Folk-Penquite and Cory Folk.  Grandparents Jane and Alex Vargo.  Also grieving are his aunts and uncles Laura Lytle, Marc Folk, Bridget (Robert) Niemand, and Matt (Lindsay) Folk, close cousins Megan Hrevnak (Bryan Dains), Holden, Emma and Ruby Folk, the Wagner Family, as well as many additional aunts and uncles and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his beloved cat Charlotte, his brother Nicholas, grandfathers Wayne Lytle and Robert Folk.  Additional grandparents and great grandparents also passed on before him.  

His greatest joys, his friends, left to celebrate his life are his girlfriend Natasha Tucker, and the greatest group of friends anyone could have, most from the age of 2, are Zach, Alix, Alex, Eric, Laura, Lang, Tenayah, Rebecca, Christina, Emily, Jacob, Nicole, Jon, Lisa, Taylor, Anthony and so many, many more.  

Rest in peace our sweet boy.  You were taken too soon. We will continue your good work. We all love you.

Friends may visit Freck Funeral Chapel in Oregon, Ohio on Friday September 17, 2021 from 2 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday in the chapel at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions are appreciated to the Toledo Humane Society. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Collin Thomas Folk, please visit our floral store.