AVA- Joseph D. Collum, 60, of Ava, passed away at 7:41 am, on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro. Joseph was born in Salem, IL, on June 29, 1952, the son of Bill and Wanda Gaston Collum. He married Susan L. Sanders on May 16, 1980 at Salem, IL. Joe was retired from Consolidation Coal Company. He began his career with Consol in November 1979 as a reclamation supervisor at Burning Star Mine #3 in Sparta and over the years was transferred to other Consol Mines in the area. For several years he worked in the "pit" as a lead dragline supervisor. But he always thought of himself as a "dirt mover" and loved working reclamation. He was privileged to spend the last years before his retirement in 2008, working reclamation at Consol's closed mine properties, many of them were places he had worked at during his 29 years with Consol. Joseph is survived by his wife, Susan Sanders Collum of Ava; one daughter, Lily Collum of Ava; two brothers, John (Kathy) Collum and Carl (Kathy) Collum; three sisters, Carolyn (Charlie) Arnold, Angela (Will) Sloss and Pam (Ben) Ford; one sister-in-law, Kim Collum; and many nieces and nephews. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Maya Nicole Collum; and one brother, David Collum. Memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 5, 2013 at the Wilson's Funeral Home in Ava with Chaplin Mary Wyatt officiating. Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home, Ava, where friends may call Saturday from 11 am to 1 pm. Memorials may be given to Lily's education fund.