Colin Titus
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On August 19, 2019 @ 10:02 am In 2019,Obituaries | 33 Comments
Colin Titus, age 52, met his Savior on Thursday, August 15, 2019 with his beloved family & friends present at St. Francis Medical Center ICU, which had become an extension of home.
A time of gathering will be held on Thursday, September 26, from 4-7 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 4565 Pleasant Street S.E., Prior Lake and one hour prior to the Celebration of Life, Friday, September 27 at 11 am at Prior Lake Baptist Church, 5690 Credit River Road SE, Prior Lake. Pastor Sam Choi of Prior Lake Baptist Church and Pastor Jeff Rich of Grace Community Bible Church will be presiding. Jonathan Pfeffer and Ross Callen – both cousins and childhood playmates – will be Colin’s urn bearers.
The amazing life of John Colin began on December 19, 1966, in Owatonna, MN. He was the first-born child to John Samuel Jr. and Bettye Jane (Burnett) Titus. They brought him home on Christmas Eve. Colin’s life was very unique in many ways. He was born with non-verbal autism and NF2. The doctors didn’t give him much of a future, but Colin proved them all wrong; he defied all expectations. Colin had a very close and special bond with his four-year-younger sister, Melissa, his only sibling.
In 1973, the Titus family moved to Prior Lake, where Colin delighted being outdoors and tinkering on anything with wheels. He loved to go for tractor rides with Dad and pulling his sister and her friends in his Radio Flyer red wagon. He enjoyed walking and riding his bike with a big flag in back around the neighborhood. Colin had such an individual way to connect with people. He would often be found at the neighbors visiting. His main passion, however, was eating food especially chocolate. Colin was the first student with autism to be mainstreamed in the local public-school system and was well accepted. He liked school a lot.
Throughout all the years of difficult health changes, Colin’s dedicated family, advocates and medical professionals worked hard, while friends prayed diligently alongside Colin, striving to ensure he maintained the best quality of life possible always. The family is so grateful for these key people in Colin’s life. At age 22, Colin liked living at the Shakopee Delphi group home. As his health declined from viral encephalitis and NF2, his family purchased a home for him in 2003 on Park Ridge Dr. in Shakopee. This provided Colin and other clients a forever home catered to their needs. He eventually needed a wheelchair, but this didn’t stop him from enjoying life, the outdoors and interacting with people.
Colin loved people and truly lived a full life, showing you can make a difference in the world no matter what. He taught people the true meaning of love and care, through his big blue twinkling eyes and giant smile that hugged. Colin expressed very few words, but he could communicate better than most people. He was even protective of favorites. He always knew and remembered the people he loved. Colin had a zest to live and handled his suffering and needs with such grace and patience. He touched countless lives through the years. Colin was truly a gift given from God to us and now is living a new life with God and has no more limitations; he can move freely, eat anything and express himself perfectly. Colin has been set free!
Forever loved and missed by his mother, Bettye J. Titus; father, John S. Titus; sister, Melissa B. (John B. Hornor) Titus-Hornor; dedicated advocates and faithful and trusted caregivers; other relatives and friends. There to welcome Colin home in heaven are his grandparents, Horace and Marian Burnett, John S. Sr. and Evelyn Titus, other loving relatives and family.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation proudly served the Titus family. www.ballardsundefuneral.com
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Thank you for your thoughtful words at this time. It’s been very difficult to lose him even though we know he has it better in Heaven without any suffering.
Oh my……his third grade teacher has such fond memories of Colin. We all loved him. Condolences to all. Will keep checking on arrangements
Yes, fond memories indeed. Colin loved his school and learned a lot from his teachers; just being around all the kids taught him so much. We hope to see you at his events and share memories! If not please reach out so we can get together sometime. ❤️
So sorry to hear about Colin’s passing. My prayers to all the family.
My condolences to the Titus family. You met the challenges of life with grace,love,and dignity.
May God bless all of you.RIP Colin.
Thank you Seth for saying this. We gave him our all and he deserved it. I took him for wheelchair walks down the point often his last few weeks on earth!
Heaps of Love and Hugs to the whole Titus and Hornor family! God must be proud of the grace you all provided for Colins’ comfort and well being for all these years. We hold you all, close to our hearts, and know that Colin has found peace and comfort.
We just love you guys! I’m glad I brought Colin by to visit you all recently! He loved you all too!
I still remember Colin riding his bicycle around the neighborhood. Sometimes he would get a little too adventuresome and his mom Bettye would have to search for him in the car. I know he will be greatly missed by many. I am so sorry he is gone.
Yes, some neighbors have very cute memories of Colin’s “visits” until mom and I would find him having a snack with the neighbors and hanging out all independent like.
Yes, fond memories indeed. Colin loved his school and learned a lot from his teachers; just being around all the kids taught him so much. We hope to see you at his events and share memories! If not please reach out so we can get together sometime. ❤️
Your world will never be that same without Colin present and my heart breaks for all of you. If every family loved the way your family has loved, the world would be a better place. Thank you for sharing about Colin’s life, this was so well written. I have said many prayer for Colin and your family. I’m sure Heaven has been amazing for Colin! Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers!
What wonderful words and love were written. I’m sure he knew how loved he was until the Lord took him home. I know your hearts are aching, but I also know that in time each of you will be able to smile and remember the fun and interesting stories about Colin. He is Home, healed, walking and talking and has seen the face of his Lord. My prayers are with you all. Love
We are so deeply sorry to learn about Colin. Our years spent on Frost Point Circle afforded us the privilege of greeting Colin many times when he was outside. Now that we are in SD we have continued to follow Colin’s health challenges and have cheered when he has beaten the odds. Please know that we are swirling love and peace to all of you and wish we there to give you one gigantic hug! Love to all…
He will be missed – always loved. Love John
It has always been obvious that Colin was born into the most caring, loving family in all the world. Praying for peace and comfort as you say goodbye for now. Resurrection Day is coming
May Colin RIP my condolences to his family. He is with God now and no longer in any pain
God bless you all and so sorry for your loss. ❤
We love and pray for you now saying goodbye for now knowing we will all be together one day
My love goes out to the Titus family. What a wonderful loving family Colin has had to care for him over his lifetime. What a fighter Colin was for life, often surprising me with the ability to live through such devastating setbacks, illnesses, and pain. I only wish I could have met him in person. My prayers will not be the same without Colin, Betty, and Melissa in them.
Know that you are loved by many.
Love Cindy Queen and Dan Carlson
Colin was loved so much by his extremely Devoted family . He was lucky to have their support and love. I am so glad he is now at peace. As an RN who was at DELPHI I will always hold him in my heart
I loved my time with Colin! His smile and laugh brought me so much joy! I will forever remember those smiling laughing days. He taught me so much! I will never forget…..❤
Colin is with Jesus continuing his life as your beloved son and brother. He spoke so much joy and love without words while on earth. While you feel such loss of his lack of presence in your lives, may you be comforted with the assurance that His Lord Jesus has said when he greeted Colin in heaven, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” .
I’m so sorry to hear about this. Though, I never met Colin, I was following his story on Melissa’s Facebook, and rooting for him all the time. You were lucky to have him, and certainly he was lucky to have such a loving sister, advocate, and friend.
My thoughts and prayers go out to your family during this difficult time. I have fond memories of him during my visits to your house….those big blue eyes peeking around the corner ….wondering what we were up to …..and his book of pictures he would point to….
My Condolences to Colin’s whole family- by blood or just by heart. I am so glad that after many decades I connected with you Melissa and got up to date of Colin’s health. Heaven gained another angel for sure with him!
My Dear Melissa, Thank you for sharing your beautiful brother Colin with me and so many others through your heartfelt precious posts over the years. Always smiling, the two of you always touched my soul. I know words cannot begin to touch your loss, but please knowI love you and hold you and your family up up up. Peace, Rea
I am very sorry for the loss of your brother and son. It is wonderful to know that he and you shared an enriching time on this earth. Everyone who knew him, I’m sure, is better for it.
Prayers for you and your family as you celebrate Colin. I miss you all.
I will forever miss Colin. He was our spirit, the joy of our young family and the example of life lived. I will always remember when we would take a hot tub bath (John and I), Colin would step into the hot water also. He didn’t say much but I knew he just wanted to make sure the water was the right temperature. He’ll be missed.
I first met Colin in first grade at Westwood Elementary school. As children, he was a new understanding for many of us. We were curious, and he was always smiling. Some days were harder for him than others, but he kept on. I didn’t realize he was embarking on new territory as the first student to mainstream our public system. I always wondered how he fared in his later years, and reading his obituary brought some heartfelt tears to know he had a wonderful life and family. I am so sorry for your loss, and our class was better for growing those long ago years with him.
To the Titus famiy..please feel my warm loving arms surrounding you at this time. I just found out tonite of the service. I am saddened that I will not be able to attend Colin’s service. My fondest memory of Colin in our 3rd grade classroom was every day when it was time to go to lunch he would pass out the cold lunch boxes to the appropriate owner. He was totally engaged in every single student in class. We all learned much from Colin. Rest In Peace sweet Colin.
Sympathies to all,
Patti Evanoff Rauhauser
Sending prayers and love. So sorry to hear about Colin. Melissa, I appreciate you and your sharing of Colin’s progress, etc. during the last years I have been on Face Book with you. I hope we can still stay in touch. You all have been an inspiration to us all with your love and care for this young man. Blessings to all of you.
Molly Denley Cameron
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We are so sorry for your loss. We are praying that you will find peace in the many wonderful memories you have of Colin. Please let us know if you need anything.