R. Dean Collins
March 17, 1927 (Champaign, Illinois) - January 22, 2016 (Springfield, Illinois)
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Parents: Lela
Spouse: Barbara Ruth Collins Children: Susan Poludniak, Greg Collins, Jeff Collins High School Attended: University High School (Champaign, IL) College Attended: University of Illinois Post Graduate School: University of Illinois Military Service: Army Air Corp, WWII Vet Occupation: Civil and Structural Engineer |
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Obituary:
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Roland Dean Sterling Collins died Jan. 22, 2016, surrounded by his children at the home he designed and helped build six decades earlier.
Dean was born in Champaign, Ill., to Lela and Floyd Collins in 1927 on St. Patrick's Day.
Dean was a veteran of WWII. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949 with high honors from the Engineering College and was selected as one of the University's elite Bronze Tablet scholars. He met Barbara Thomasson on July 4, 1950. He turned down a Rhodes Scholarship to study in Scotland in order to marry Barbara 67 days later. After completing his Masters in Engineering from the U of I in 1951, he and Barbara moved to upstate New York so Dean could pursue a PhD in Engineering at Cornell.
After realizing that a career in academia was not for him, Dean moved to Springfield to begin his engineering career and raise a family. He and Marcus Rice became partners in 1954 and their consulting engineering firm, Collins & Rice, endured as a successful partnership for 37 years. Dean served as the President of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE). In 1987, Dean received the Illinois Award from ISPE, its highest award, for his outstanding contribution to the engineering profession. He was a heck of an engineer.
Dean was an active participant in Springfield's civic life. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and served as a Trustee. He was selected as the American Business Club's Young Man of the Year in 1962. He later went on to serve as that charitable organization's president. Dean was active in Republican Party politics and served in various roles including precinct committeeman and Chairman of the Sangamon County Board.
He was a member of the Island Bay Yacht Club for well over half a century but never could quite master sailing – but the birthday parties he hosted for himself in his early 80s at the club were memorable.
He was an intelligent, generous man who had many interests, friends and enthusiasms. He was crazy about cars, a voracious reader, a coin collector, a painter, and, in general, very good company and a lot of fun.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, after 57 years of marriage.
He is survived by his three children: Susan Lee Poludniak (Tom), Gregory Dean Collins (Tanya), and Jeffery Craig Collins (Karen); six grandchildren: Danielle Collins (fiancé, David), Karen Gregory (John), Brent Collins (Kati), Hayley Collins, Kate Poludniak-Young (Neal), and Allison Collins; two great-grandchildren, Brycen Gregory and Sofia Young; sister, Shirl Dillon-Watson; sister-in-law, Alice Thomasson; cousin, Irma Jean Gillespie; and several nieces and nephews.
Dean was a loving and thoughtful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family will remember him with affection, amusement and love.
Celebration of Life: The family invites friends to join in a celebration of Dean's life at the Island Bay Yacht Club, 76 Yacht Club Drive, Springfield on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 5-7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship Fund, 100 E. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62701; Arthritis Foundation, Central Illinois Chapter, 2621 N. Knoxville, Peoria, IL 61604; or Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Dr., Springfield, IL 62712.
The family of Roland Dean Sterling Collins is being served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.
Published in The State Journal-Register from Jan. 24 to Jan. 25, 2016.
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Roland Dean Sterling Collins died Jan. 22, 2016, surrounded by his children at the home he designed and helped build six decades earlier.
Dean was born in Champaign, Ill., to Lela and Floyd Collins in 1927 on St. Patrick's Day.
Dean was a veteran of WWII. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949 with high honors from the Engineering College and was selected as one of the University's elite Bronze Tablet scholars. He met Barbara Thomasson on July 4, 1950. He turned down a Rhodes Scholarship to study in Scotland in order to marry Barbara 67 days later. After completing his Masters in Engineering from the U of I in 1951, he and Barbara moved to upstate New York so Dean could pursue a PhD in Engineering at Cornell.
After realizing that a career in academia was not for him, Dean moved to Springfield to begin his engineering career and raise a family. He and Marcus Rice became partners in 1954 and their consulting engineering firm, Collins & Rice, endured as a successful partnership for 37 years. Dean served as the President of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE). In 1987, Dean received the Illinois Award from ISPE, its highest award, for his outstanding contribution to the engineering profession. He was a heck of an engineer.
Dean was an active participant in Springfield's civic life. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and served as a Trustee. He was selected as the American Business Club's Young Man of the Year in 1962. He later went on to serve as that charitable organization's president. Dean was active in Republican Party politics and served in various roles including precinct committeeman and Chairman of the Sangamon County Board.
He was a member of the Island Bay Yacht Club for well over half a century but never could quite master sailing – but the birthday parties he hosted for himself in his early 80s at the club were memorable.
He was an intelligent, generous man who had many interests, friends and enthusiasms. He was crazy about cars, a voracious reader, a coin collector, a painter, and, in general, very good company and a lot of fun.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, after 57 years of marriage.
He is survived by his three children: Susan Lee Poludniak (Tom), Gregory Dean Collins (Tanya), and Jeffery Craig Collins (Karen); six grandchildren: Danielle Collins (fiancé, David), Karen Gregory (John), Brent Collins (Kati), Hayley Collins, Kate Poludniak-Young (Neal), and Allison Collins; two great-grandchildren, Brycen Gregory and Sofia Young; sister, Shirl Dillon-Watson; sister-in-law, Alice Thomasson; cousin, Irma Jean Gillespie; and several nieces and nephews.
Dean was a loving and thoughtful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family will remember him with affection, amusement and love.
Celebration of Life: The family invites friends to join in a celebration of Dean's life at the Island Bay Yacht Club, 76 Yacht Club Drive, Springfield on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 from 5-7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Illinois Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship Fund, 100 E. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62701; Arthritis Foundation, Central Illinois Chapter, 2621 N. Knoxville, Peoria, IL 61604; or Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Dr., Springfield, IL 62712.
The family of Roland Dean Sterling Collins is being served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.
Published in The State Journal-Register from Jan. 24 to Jan. 25, 2016.