Dr. Peter Kollinger (95) of Effingham

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Published on June 3 2020 7:57 am

Peter Kollinger, 95, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at his Lake Sara residence.

Given these historical times, services through Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham were privately held with burial in the Stewardson Cemetery. 

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the “Lake Sara Forever Fund” at the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation reached at: (217.342.5409) or 2701 S. Banker Street, Suite 102A, Effingham, IL. 62401. While supplies last, donors will receive a copy of the book: “Peter Kollinger: An Incredible 90+ Year Journey”.

Peter was born October 12, 1924 to Franz and Susanna (Schmidt) Kollinger in Ernsthausen, Yugoslavia, now Banatski Despotovac, Serbia. Peter was an only child raised in an ethnic German farming town where he was doted on by his four grandparents until WWII.

After finishing high school in 1944, Peter was conscripted into a German boy’s camp where he trained to become a soldier. Peter was charged with leading the neighboring girl’s camp to safety in Budapest, Hungary. Despite strafing by Russian fighter planes, he safely delivered the 32 young women.

Near the closing months of the war, Peter was sent to the Russian front. Despite numerous close calls with death, Peter, miraculously, survived. Once the opportunity presented itself, he and Hans Rollinger (who would later become a practicing physician in Vandalia, IL) began the arduous journey toward the safety of Austria, on foot. 

In the summer of 1945, Peter and Hans snuck across the divided border of Hungary and Austria in hopes of accessing a new life and the only functioning medical school in Graz, Austria. The two life-long friends finished their medical training together in 1951.

In Graz, Peter met the love of his life, Milla Rohrer, who he wed on November 11, 1951. They were married for 63 years until her passing in 2014.

Peter, Milla, his parents and 300 other immigrants sailed for the US on April 11, 1952. Peter served as the resident physician on the ship. With only $10 in their pockets, Peter and his family headed to Chicago from Ellis Island to reunite with relatives. While studying for his American Medical Boards, Peter worked a rotating internship at Grant Hospital.

Peter found the town of Stewardson, IL as the place to start his medical career. Upon opening his practice on June 1, 1954, he was greeted with open arms by the residents of the area. Peter recalled the warmth bestowed upon him, “They threw a reception for us, and I was so impressed with the kindness of everyone. They were so welcoming to a total stranger. It seemed like everyone showed up with a present for us. We were overwhelmed.”

Peter became a cornerstone of the community. He not only diagnosed the common cold, but also delivered babies and performed a variety of surgeries during his 43 years in practice. He treated thousands of patients from the Stewardson and Effingham areas, many of whom became good friends.

When Peter started his medical profession, he was only one of eight physicians with privileges at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Effingham. His grand vision of Effingham as a regional medical center, led him to developing the Effingham Medical Park, Effingham Medical Center, Lake Land Nursing Home, bringing the first CT scanner and MRI unit, a multitude of other local and regional medical facilities as well as amassing a vast real estate portfolio and various other business ventures and investments. 

Until last year, Peter still made constant trips back to Europe, where he would connect with old friends and relatives. His daily regimen included working out at the Workman Center, Skyping with friends throughout the world, and providing weekly email digests for family and friends.  

Peter and Milla had three sons, Herbert, Edwin and Erich. Milla passed away on May 10, 2014 and Edwin on April 2, 2016. Peter will be remembered by the contributions he made to the Effingham Medical Community and by his friends and family for decades to come.