Dr. Daniel Dean Follis, 83, of Raymond, died on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, at Hillsboro Health in Hillsboro, surrounded by family.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 12 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Nokomis on Saturday, Nov. 15. A memorial service will follow at 12 p.m. and a celebration meal will follow the service. The funeral will be live streamed through First Baptist Church’s YouTube channel. The link is available on the church’s Facebook page.
Dr. Follis was born on Feb. 3, 1942, in Valparaiso, IN, the son of Dan and Donna Follis and the oldest brother to Diane and Denny. He attended Olivet Nazarene University, worked to start YMCAs and then was drafted and served in the army as a chaplain. He was placed at Fort Dix near Cherry Hills, NJ, where he met and married the love of his life, Anne Lorraine (Bowen) Follis, on Aug. 24, 1968. The two built a lifelong partnership in ministry together.
Dr. Follis served as pastor for several United Methodist congregations over the years. He also received his doctorate of ministry from the University of Illinois. He traveled and supported his wife during her book tours and the ERA movement. He was most known for his leadership and conviction to preach the Gospel without compromise. He left the Methodist Church and started Christ Alive Community Church in Kickapoo. After 40 years of ministry, he retired from active pastoring but never from encouraging people to follow Jesus.
Dr. Follis loved horses, reading theology and church history, trying to hit a golf ball and having coffee and lunch with friends. His breakfast was lunch, his lunch was dinner and his dinner was usually at 11 p.m., watching a western or writing a sermon (or both). He was a devoted husband, pastor and mentor to many.
Dr. Follis is survived by his children, Troy (Abby) Follis and Ryan (Tara) Follis and his nine grandchildren. He was also known as Grandpa the Great to his bonus family.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Megan; son-in-law, Paul; and wife, Anne.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Nokomis and will be distributed to the ministries Dr. Follis cherished most.
