Paul Wesley Collins

Paul Wesley Collins, 57, of Waterloo, passed swiftly into the arms of his Lord, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, December 28, 2024. He was born on February 12, 1967, in Park Ridge, IL, the son of John and Violet Collins. Paul graduated from DePaul University and was a maintenance technician with the US Postal Service. He was a deacon at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waterloo.

Paul was a likeable, funny man who could make friends with anyone. With the ability to make perfectly timed, inappropriate jokes (and not be sent to HR), he was always deemed the class clown in any setting. Paul loved to smoke his pipe and enjoy fine spirits. He enjoyed raising alpacas and used their wool to make garments. Paul possessed a strong Christian faith. His hope was that his family and friends would come to know Christ as he did so that he would see them again. Paul, being the strong, stubborn man he was, cooked an amazing Christmas dinner for his family before his passing.

Paul is survived by his daughters Laura Collins of Dubuque, Charlotte Collins of Cedar Falls, and Violet Collins of New Hartford, grandson Andrew Wynstra of New Hartford, and brothers Peter (Mindy) Collins of Sun Prairie, WI and Mark (Laura) Collins of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Jonathan Collins, David Collins and Rebecca McShea.

Funeral services for Paul will be Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1555 W Ridgeway Ave., Waterloo, at 10:30 AM with burial to follow at Orange Township Cemetery. A visitation for Paul will be Friday, January 3, 2025, at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave., Waterloo, from 5-7 PM. Memorial contributions should be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.