BENTON

COLLINS, DENNIS LYNN, was born May 25, 1951 at Concordia, Kansas to Robert and Nadine Collins.

H e was baptized as an infant at the Presbyterian Church in Jamestown, Kansas.

D ennis attended school in Concordia, graduating from Concordia High School in the class of 1969 and attended Cloud County Community College before continuing his education at The Kansas Technical Institute now known as Kansas State University of Salina, graduating with a degree in Aviation Mechanics.

D ennis was co-owner of Midwest Aircraft Services in Newton, Kansas, retiring in 2017. On January 27, 1973, Dennis was united in marriage with Karen Wissing of Salina. Dennis and Karen were blessed with 2 daughters Jennifer (James) Connolly and Catherine Collins. They have one grandson, Fisher Connolly and a step-grand-daughter, Meeghan Connolly. Dennis and Karen spent their married years residing in Benton, Kansas. Family meant everything to Dennis.

D ennis and his brother Don established Collins Racing with car 7C over 50 years ago. The family had a passion for racing and car 7C had the following of many wonderful friends.

D ennis was fatally injured in a vehicle accident in McPherson while driving home after the annual Collins celebration on Chistmas Eve in Concordia. He died at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on December 25th, 2018.

H e is survived by his wife, Karen, daughters, Jennifer (James) Connolly and Catherine Collins, grandson, Fisher Connolly, Benton, step-granddaughter Meeghan Connolly, Wichita, mother-in-law Barbara Wissing of Salina, brother, Donald(Pauline) Collins, sisters Phyllis (Larry) Ostrom, Diane(Rod) Sothers, Ronda(Jeff) Gumm all of Concordia and numerous nieces and nephews and huge family of friends.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to a charity of your own choice in Dennis' memory.

A memorial gathering for Dennis will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on January 12 at The Benton Church, 14300 SW 20th St. The family asks that this remain an informal event and therefore everyone to honor Dennis with jeans, t-shirts, crew shirts and flight wear.