John "Tiny" Collins

A public visitation and reviewal for John Lauren “Tiny” Collins, 83, of Hoyt Lakes, will be 4:00-7:00pm Monday, March 29, 2021 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Aurora.  A private family funeral service will be held later.  Burial will be in the Hoyt Lakes Memorial Cemetery.

Tiny died Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at Essentia Health – Northern Pines in Aurora, Minnesota.

He was born September 19, 1937 in Bessemer, Michigan to John A. and Dorothy (Uren) Collins.  Following his schooling, he married Bea Adrian in Wakefield, Michigan.  Tiny served our country as a US Army veteran for two years and following his military service moved to Hoyt Lakes.  There he worked for Erie mining Company and retired from LTV Steel as a maintenance mechanic.

Tiny was a member of Trinity Methodist Church, the Aurora American Legion Post 241 and the Biwabik Masonic Lodge.  He was a volunteer for the Aurora Food Shelf since its inception and organized the Special Olympics Walk-A-Thon for many years.  Tiny was one of the “Grumpy Old Men” at the Mesabi East Basketball games, was a multiplication whiz and a Die-Hard Green Bay Packers fan.  He was a loving husband, father and grandfather; but was a very special father to over 90 foster children over 45 years.

He is survived by his wife, Bea; children: John “J.J.” Collins, Tracy Hill, Willy (Melina) Collins, Danny (Kevin) Davis, Chris Bauer, Becca Bauer, Julia (Brian) Carlson and Brittany (Jesse) Taylor; numerous foster children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Dorothy; siblings: Russell, William “Tubby”, Richie, Geraldine, Geneva and Marcia.