John W. Colloton

John W. Colloton

Coralville

John W. Colloton, 94, passed away peacefully at home on November 14, 2025. John was born February 20, 1931, in Mason City, Iowa, the third of five children of Harold W. and Miriam J. (Kelly) Colloton. He was graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Mason City and magna cum laude from Loras College in Dubuque in 1953. After two years of U.S. Army service in Germany, John earned a Master’s Degree in hospital & health administration from the University of Iowa in 1957.

He married Mary Ann Hagglund, a graduate of the UI College of Nursing, in 1960, and they became parents of three children, all of whom are his survivors: Steven M. Colloton and his spouse, Deborah, of Des Moines, and their children, Olivia and Elizabeth; daughter Laura J. Colloton Giessler and her spouse, Frederick W. (Chip), of Charlottesville, VA, and their children, Caris, Will and Hannah; and daughter, Ann E. Colloton and her spouse, Matthew W. Laney, of Decatur, GA, and their children, Halladay and Camden. John is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews. Mary Ann predeceased John, as did four siblings (and three in-laws): James E. Colloton (Pat), Kathryn A. Colloton Morse (Roger), Richard H. Colloton, and J. Michael Colloton (Sandra).

John joined the administrative staff of the University of Iowa Hospitals in 1956, where he served for 45 years, including 23 years as Director and Chief Executive Officer of the UIHC. The span of his tenure was described as the “Golden Age” of the UIHC by the late Dr. Maurice Van Allen, a distinguished neurologist at the UIHC. Under John’s leadership, the UIHC undertook a $500 million capital replacement and operational refinement program (all without state tax support). This effort transformed the UIHC from an indigent care institution into one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers with a top 12 ranking among the nation’s 400 teaching hospitals. The program quadrupled the physical size of the UIHC complex and expanded its staff from 2,500 to 7,500 members, while adding a broad array of new clinical services and state-of-the-art medical technology. He was also instrumental in facilitating major capital donations from the late Roy J. Carver, Sr., the late John and Mary Pappajohn, and the family of the late Marvin A. Pomerantz, all warm friends of John’s who also became prolific donors to the UI at large. In recognition of his outstanding service to the University, the State Board of Regents in 1982 named one of the additions to the UIHC as the John W. Colloton Pavilion. John was most proud of the talented 21-member team of UIHC executives and department heads with whom he served and the stability produced by their average tenure of 24 years each.

John was the recipient of numerous awards and honors during his career, including election to the National Academy of Medicine; election as Chairman of the Association of American Medical Colleges, as only the second non-physician to hold this position in 112 years; and receipt of the American Hospital Association’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in 1990. He also received the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans in 2002. In 2008, the Board of Directors of Wellmark, Inc. established “The John W. Colloton Board Room” at the company’s new headquarters in Des Moines in recognition of his 35 years of distinguished service on the Wellmark Board.

The UI conferred on John an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2013, awarded him the Hancher-Finkbine Medallion for leadership, learning, and loyalty in 2016, and named two endowed academic chairs in his honor—one in Cardiology in the College of Medicine and the other in the Department of Health Management and Policy in the College of Public Health. Loras College conferred an honorary doctoral degree on John in 1999. In appreciation of the instrumental role that the UI and Loras College played in the lives of the Colloton family, John and Mary Ann made substantial donations to both institutions in the 1990s.

Aside from his busy professional life, John treasured his annual fishing trip to Canada with five good friends for more than twenty-five years. He was excited to see the world with Mary Ann during several international trips. As an avid sports fan, dating to his days playing American Legion baseball and high school basketball in Mason City, John enjoyed many outings with friends and family at Kinnick Stadium, the Iowa Fieldhouse, Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and Wrigley Field. The family also made memories together on Sanibel Island, FL, and John always looked forward to hosting his thirteen extended family members at Christmas for meals around the dining room table and carols in the living room.

The family will receive visitors at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3000 12th Avenue in Coralville, on Sunday, November 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be a Vigil for the Deceased at 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Church on Monday, November 24, at 11 a.m. Mass will be followed by a luncheon to which all are invited. A private Rite of Committal and burial at Oak Hill Cemetery will follow after lunch for family. Father Chuck Adam, Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, will preside. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Thomas More Church Building Fund or an entity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences at www.lensingfuneral.com.