Collin James O. Hagan of Twin Lakes, Michigan, was born on July 20, 1995. His first six grades were completed at Elm River Twp School. Collin graduated from Jeffers High School. He attended Gogebic Community College, graduating with an associate degree in applied science and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in forestry at Michigan Technological University.

Throughout college, Collin interned with Compass Land Consultants, Inc., gaining skills in forest inventory, timber marking, and invasive species control in Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

After graduation, Collin followed his interest to go west when he accepted a position in wildland firefighting. His first two seasons were with Grayback Forestry in LaGrande, Oregon, where he initiated his wildland firefighting task book. His desire to develop sawyer skills began here. His career brought him to the Flat Head National Forest in Condon, Montana, where he worked two seasons on a Type 2 Crew for the USFS. It was here that he advanced his true passion as a sawyer. Collin set his mind to pushing his skills and strengths forward with the intention of becoming a hotshot. In 2022, he was employed with the BLM on the Craig Interagency Hotshot Crew in Craig, Colorado. Collin remained friends with many of his wildland firefighting family members.

Collin was a skateboard enthusiast. Along with a special group of buddies, he ventured out to find the challenges and fun of every day. Raised on the water and called to the woods, he camped under the stars on the shores of Lake Superior. His truest little playmate was his big sister, Emily. Collin belonged to Holy Family Catholic Church, was active in a local 4-H club, and played hockey in the CCJHA. Collin was an avid hunting and fishing outdoorsman. He loved to hike and discover unknown places. Collin always took his health seriously and worked daily during the off-season to improve his strength and endurance. The “boys” in the gym looked up to Collin. He was a serious man when it came to the chain saw. Certified and skilled in the art of felling trees of all sizes, he worked his way up the ranks to number one sawman while assisting others in learning this trade.

He was known by everyone as a very kind and compassionate man. He thought of others first and just did not worry, a trait many of us learned from him. He was often quiet yet had a remarkable sense of humor. Collin made his own path in life, a path which we are all so very proud he took.

Collin is the son of Shawn and Jeanmarie (Militello) Hagan and brother to Emily (Jared) Johnson.