COLLINS, Daniel John

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, Arizona Published Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Daniel John Collins graduated on Sept. 24, 2010, in Lake Havasu City at the age of 59. He was born to Walter Collins and Anne McDonald Collins Nov. 21, 1950, in Boston, Mass. One night, Dan went to a dance at the local YMCA and walked up to a beautiful girl and asked her to dance, her reply was no, and he said well, you just blew your chance. Needless to say, he got the girl and they have been dancing for the last 40 years. Ready for a change in 1974, he packed up his family and moved to Lake Havasu City. It was here that he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and became a believer. He served in the church as everything from janitor to speaking in the pulpit. Dan felt the call of God to become a pastor and became an ordained minister in 1994. In January 1995, Pastors Dan and Maureen pioneered Living Word Family Church. Pastor Dan, a Mighty Man of God, inspired his congregation every week with words of wisdom and lots of laughs. His sense of humor and witty personality were some of his greatest strengths. He was extremely loved by his congregation, some of whom grew up with him, married them and dedicated their babies to the Lord. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy, memory and work will go on in this community. Living Word Family Church will go on in his honor for God’s glory. Pastor Dan not only worked in the church, he was a real estate agent. In 2007, his longtime friend Vicki Runyon talked to him about joining her new real estate office, Keller Williams Arizona Living Realty, and he has never looked back. He felt as a real estate agent, his responsibility is to not only help other people find their dream home, but to secure them a home in heaven that is already paid for. A man of many hats, Dan also worked with his daughter and son-in-law delivering oxygen at Havasu Medical Supply. He was a man who was loved wherever he went. Dan loved his family, wife Maureen Collins; brothers, Walter Collins and Steven Collins; sisters, Cathy Carter and Nancy Pennington; daughters, Dorothy Goldman and Traci McLaughlin; sons-in-law, Brian McLaughlin and Jim Goldman; granddaughter, Destiny Marie; and lifelong friends, Jim and Linda Bethoney; and adopted family in the faith, Rudolf and Jacci Korv family, Ernie and Sharon Kaysen family; and beloved staff. A Celebration of Pastor Dan’s life will be Saturday, at Lakeview Community Church at 1 p.m. A reception will immediately follow. The family is asking in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Living Word Family Church, 1890 W. Acoma Blvd., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.