Nov. 28, 1922 — Jan. 14, 2017
The Rev. Eugene C. Kollasch, S.J., was called to eternal life on Jan. 14, 2017.
Eugene died at the Jesuit Retirement Home in St. Camillus, in Wausatosa, Wis.
He was 94 years old, a Jesuit for 68 years, and a priest for 57 years.
Eugene C Kollasch was born on Nov. 28, 1922, in Whittemore, the son of Charles R. and Anna (Laubenthal) Kollasch. Gene attended grade school and high school at Presentation Academy in Whittemore.
He served in the military during World War II. From 1946 to 1948 he studied at Creighton University in Omaha and St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. On Aug. 15, 1948, he entered the Jesuit Society at St. Stanislaus Seminary, Florissant, Mo.
Gene had the usual Jesuit course of studies at St. Stanislaus, Saint Louis University, and St. Mary’s College, St. Mary’s, KS. He was ordained on June 16, 1959. Gene spent a year of spiritual formation in Wales and two years teaching at Creighton University Preparatory School in Omaha.
In 1965 he earned a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. Gene pronounced his final vows in Seoul, South Korea on April 22, 1977.
Gene ministered at Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Ridge, S.D., during formation. After doctoral studies he was assigned to the Korean Mission, where he worked from 1965 to 1998, serving at various times as a theology professor at Kwangu Seminary and Sogang University, mission superior, and rector of the Sogang University Jesuit Community.
In 1998, Gene returned to the United States. He spent two years at the Oshkosh Jesuit Retreat House, a year doing pastoral ministry in Minneapolis, and in 2002 moved to the Creighton Prep Jesuit Community in Omaha where he did pastoral ministry until failing health led to a move in 2012 to the St. Camillus Jesuit Community.
During his 33 years in Korea, Gene was regularly given positions of significant responsibility as he watched the Society in Korea grow from a young mission to an independent region to a full province. In his later years back in the United States, he proved to be a zealous pastoral minister and a quiet, steady companion for his brother Jesuits.
Eugene is survived by his siblings, Sister Anne Marie Kollasch, PBVM of Dubuque; Caroline Bormann of Algona; Dolores Kollasch of Algona; Sister Joanne Kollasch, OSB of Madison, Wis.; Irene Bormann of Bode; and Clem Kollasch of Whittemore; and sisters-in-law, Lorene and Betty Ann Kollasch, both of Algona. He is also survived by several generations of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Louis and Arnold, and brothers-in-law Harold Bormann and Clarence Bormann.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 1 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore, where his faith life began.