Kollmorgen, Walter A.

Walter A. Kollmorgen, 84, of Belle Plaine. died Monday, Sept. 9, 2013, at Colonial Manor in Amana. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at First Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine by Pastor Dean Duncan. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Hrabak Funeral Home and an hour before the service Friday at the church. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, with military rites.

Walter was born April 1, 1929, in Bancroft, Neb., the son of Arthur and Dorathea Lase Kollmorgen. He graduated from high school in West Point, Neb. He enlisted in the Army. He served three years, most of that time in the Philippines. He then enrolled at Iowa State College. A year later he was called back to the service and served one year in Korea, where he earned a bronze star.

After graduating from Iowa State he went to Law School at the University of Iowa, graduating in 1957, with a juris doctor.

In 1955, he married Mary Ann Schlue in Cedar Rapids. After law school they moved to Clinton, where he worked for the John McCarthy law firm. In 1959, he bought the law firm of Victor Vifquain in Belle Plaine. He practiced law there for the next 40 years. He also served on the city council, as mayor and as long time city attorney. After retiring he spent a few years serving as the veterans' administrator for Benton County.

He is survived by his wife; three children, David (Sandra) of North Liberty, Lisa (Mario Natta) of Highland Park, Ill., and Kristen Olejniczak (Lon) of Robins; seven grandchildren, Marty, Maggie and Sarah Kollmorgen, Cole and Race Natta and Gabby and Jake Olejniczak; three brothers, Mark (Jeanne) of Oklahoma City, Kay (Joan) of Humboldt and Robert (Marilyn) of Urbandale; three sisters, Ardyce Bartels (Harry) of Lakewood, Wash., JoAnn Henningsen (John) of Rice Lake, Wis., and Sharon Bossow (Dick) of Clermont, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Larry Schlue (Duronda); two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Kaiser and Dorothy Schlue; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Katherine Kollmorgen; his mother- and father-in-law; and a brother-in-law, John Schlue.

Walt was a lawyer with many loyal clients, a master gardener, an avid golfer, and an Iowa sports fan. He was proud of and grateful for a wonderful family.

The family would like to thank the caregivers of Essence of Life Hospice as well as the staff at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Amana for the compassionate care provided to Walt.

Memorials may be directed to the Belle Plaine Area Ambulance, Belle Plaine Community Library or First Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com under ‘obituaries.'

Published Sept. 11, 2013 in The Gazette