Dale G. Collins

Dale G. Collins, 91, of Sioux City passed away Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Merrill Muller officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dale was born April 4, 1915, in Vermillion, S.D., the son of Chester N. and Julia (Severson) Collins. He attended schools in Vermillion, where he was a standout football player.

He married Alta Marcella Larson on April 4, 1934, in Vermillion. In 1935, the couple moved to Sioux City, where he went to work for Galinski Brothers Fruit Company, driving a truck for 27 years. Later, he was employed with Howard Holdcroft Trucking for nearly 12 years, retiring from there in 1977. More recently, he was associated with Siouxland Auto Auction. Alta preceded him in death on Aug. 8, 1980, in Sioux City.

He was a longtime member of Wesley United Methodist Church. He was an avid NASCAR fan, especially Dale Earnhardt Sr. In the 1940s, he owned two midget race cars and later two stock cars. He raced at Riverside Park and other venues in the area. He loved watching all types of sports on television and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Survivors include three children, Alma Jean "Peggy" Taylor of Sioux City, Patricia Ann and her husband, Wendell Staab of Remsen, Iowa, and Jerry Dale Collins and his wife, Sharon of South Sioux City; a sister, Kathryn Tilton of Vermillion, S.D.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a niece, Shirley Brunick of Vermillion; and a special friend, Dorothy Hubert of Salix, Iowa.