Tony Alan Atkins

The Rev. Tony Alan Atkins entered into his eternal home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Jan. 1, 2018 at the age of 64.

Tony was born on July 14, 1953, in Findlay Ohio, the son of Clifford Dwight Atkins and Margorie (Pierce) Atkins. He attended school there graduating from Findlay High School in 1970.

Tony was an industrious young man working during school in an automotive electronics shop and later in a TV and Radio repair shop. After his marriage to Linda Leilani Haynes in June of 1972, Tony worked for RCA Corporation in Findlay where he received several patents on electronic items he developed there.

After receiving Christ as his personal savior, Tony answered the call to full-time ministry and moved his family to Ellendale, N.D., where he attended Trinity Bible College, graduating in 1979. After graduating he accepted a call from the Hill City, S.D., Assembly of God church where he ministered for the next 12 years seeing the church grow from about 12 members to over 100 members and building a new church building.

His ministry went far beyond the pulpit in many directions. During that time he became an EMT and secured a surplus military ambulance and started a service to a wide area. He trained others and turned that work over to them.

Tony then became a city policeman and carried his ministry into that work as well. He had many experiences during that time that he would share with his family and friends. It was a very interesting time in his life.

Tony loved the outdoors and especially the Black Hills. He enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as camping, traveling to Canada several times on fishing trips with the men of his church and his family.

When the Lord released him from his ministry there, he moved his family here to Nevada in 1991 where he co-pastored Anchor Fellowship Church with his father-in-law.

Later, he was employed by Heartland Hospital in Nevada as a mental health worker, rising to the position of C.O.O. and did marketing.

In April 2001 he was employed by Freeman Hospital as Administrator of Turnaround Ranch in Joplin serving there until his employment at Ozark Center in Joplin where he was responsible for construction and remodeling of several office and service structures.

Tony was a voracious reader, a fan and collector of Civil War artifacts. He was also an accomplished artist. He became a very skillful carpenter and woodworker over the years.

Tony was a very pleasant man who loved his family dearly and was so very proud of them all and was especially proud of his wife and daughters who are all registered nurses with one becoming a nurse practitioner.

Tony was preceded in death by his parents Clifford and Margorie Atkins.

Survivors include his wife Linda, of the home; daughters, Angelica Leilani Herstein and her husband Jason, and sons, Noah, Tyler and Brady; Gwendolyn Ann Broyles, son Lucas Allen and his fiancé Suni Areli Aguilar Gasca, daughter, Cheyenne Leilani, and their father Kirk Broyles; Noel Joy Brockman and her husband Richard, son, Van Allen Celaya III, daughter, Alison Nichole Celaya; one brother, Ron Atkins and wife, Sue; sisters, Cheryl Ernst and her husband Carl, and Debbie Atkins, all of Ohio; and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are a brother-in-law, Tony Lee Haynes and wife Cathy, of Rolla, Mo.; sister-in-law, Lisa Kirschenmann, of Nevada; and mother and father-in-law, the Rev. Tom and Ruth Haynes of Nevada.

A homegoing celebration will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Tom Haynes officiating. Private interment will follow. The family will receive friends from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested in his memory to Freeman Cancer Institute or Ozark Center in Joplin.

You may view obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com