Daniel Eli Collins, 28, Princeton

October 8, 1988 - July 5, 2017

Funeral services for Daniel Eli Collins, 28 years old, will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at Cross of Life Community Church in Princeton at 11 AM.

Daniel, also known as Dan, Dano, Danny, Dan The Man, and Danny Boy, was born to George and Cristy (Dickinson) Collins on October 8, 1988, in Batavia, IL. Daniel graduated from Princeton High School, Princeton, MN in 2007. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Digital Entertainment and Game Design at ITT Technical College in 2012. Daniel worked as a licensed lifeguard for over 11 years and most recently worked as a forklift operator in Rogers, MN for Medline.

Daniel will be remembered for his contagious smile that made everyone’s day a little brighter and the kindness he showed towards everyone he met. In his free time, Daniel enjoyed transposing video game sound tracks to the piano and like most of the Collins’ clan was an avid swimmer. He also spent time creating and playing video games with his family and friends. On notable occasions, he laughed at inside jokes that when explained could lose their meaning, a humor that was understood by him, a joke that was so exclusive he needed no one to laugh with him. Memories of Daniel will live in our hearts forever. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Daniel is survived by his parents, George and Cristy; grandmother, Lillian Dickinson; brothers and sister, James (Stephanie) Collins, Sean (Lisa Winters) Collins, Brian Collins, Andrew (Ella) Collins, Matthew (Danielle) Collins, Benjamin (April) Collins, Meara Collins, Scott Collins, Joshua Collins, Ian Collins; and many loving nieces and nephews .

Daniel was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert Collins, Anna Collins and Cecil Dickinson; his uncle Elmer; his cousin Jimmy; his Labrador Coco; and his cat Lil Wayne (Bruce).

Funeral services for Daniel Eli Collins will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at Cross of Life Community Church in Princeton at 11 AM. Family and friends may call at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Princeton on Monday, July 10th from 4-7 PM.