Albert Joseph KOLLASCH, MD

KOLLASCH, NURRE, BURKE, MORGAN, KNOX, REED

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/14/2016 at 16:35:00

December 17, 1940 ---- November 11, 2016

Albert Joseph Kollasch, MD

Albert J. (Doc) Kollasch was born November 11, 1940 and died at the Belmond Health Care Center, November 11, 2016, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Born in Bancroft IA to Albert (Bert) Kollasch and Sylvia (Nurre) Kollasch, he was the second of eight children. After completing high school (St. John’s, Bancroft IA) and 2 years of college (St. Mary’s, Winona MN), he joined the Jesuit order for 10 years, including 7 years of training and 3 years teaching Philosophy at Creighton University (Omaha NE). After he left the Jesuits in 1970, he entered the University of Iowa Medical College (Iowa City IA), where he earned his MD and engaged in family practice residency for 3 years.

Al began his medical career in Belmond IA in 1978, and remained a physician there until his retirement in 2006. During his nearly 40 years in Belmond, Dr. Kollasch saved lives, delivered many babies, and devoted himself to the good of the community both in his practice and outside of it. He participated regularly in Iowa River Players as an actor and stage hand. He was very involved in the Belmond Arts Council, the Belmond Historical Society, and associated activities including the Power Show. As a member of Trees Forever and the Parks Commission, Doc played a key role in developing the trail through Belmond and the Outdoor Classroom, and he created several prairie reconstructions in the area. Doc organized and took care of the community gardens for a number of years until his health interfered. Al loved gardening and growing African violets, and over the years he shared his produce and flowers with his many friends. He was also a prolific acrylic painter, and leaves a legacy of a wide variety of paintings with family and friends, and with the Belmond Art Museum.

Doctor Kollasch is survived by his seven siblings and their children: David and Jean Kollasch (Madison, WI) with sons Robert, Thomas, Michael, Anthony, and Benjamin; Joseph and Marilyn Kollasch (Ames, IA) with sons Jonathon and Jeffrey; Mary Lou and Barry Burke (Lexington, MA) with son Paul and daughter Karen; William and Angela Kollasch (Santa Fe, NM) with sons Edward, George, and Dominic; Kathy Kollasch and Sharon Morgan (McMinnville, OR) with sons Tucker and Chris and daughter Erin; Peter Kollasch and Tricia Knox (Iowa City, IA), with son Saeed; and Sylvia and Jeffrey Reed (Fond du Lac, WI) with son Daniel.

A memorial service is tentatively planned in Belmond for the first weekend of December, with information to follow. The University of Iowa College of Medicine acknowledges with grateful appreciation the generous contribution Dr. Albert J. Kollasch has made to the advancement of medical science and the welfare of mankind. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your preferred charity.

http://www.duggerfunerals.com/CurrentServices.html