William 'Bill'

J. Kollman

Milam, Texas ­— William "Bill" Joseph Kollman, Age 86, died at his home on Jan. 17, 2024 at Toledo Bend Lake, Milam, Texas, at the age of 86, five days shy of his 87th birthday. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 18, 2024 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson with a 7 p.m. rosary. 

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.  at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Atkinson. Father Bernard Starman will officiate. 

Burial will be in St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson with military honors provided by STRATCOMM Honor Guard, Offutt AFB and the Atkinson American Legion Post No. 86. 

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Bill was born on Jan. 22, 1937, in Atkinson to John Kollman and Catherine (Straka) Kollman. For his earlier education, grades 1-8, Bill Kollman rode his horse to Country School 168 that was situated on Kollman land, except for grade three when he boarded in town for his first communion. He attended St. Joseph's High School, graduating in the Class of 1954. He also attended the University of Colorado, University of Maryland, Wright University and various Air Force and Navy schools.

In April 1954, before he graduated from high school, Bill was one of 27 National Guard recruits from this area who joined Company F, 134th Infantry, Norfolk. (Atkinson Graphic, April 18, 1954). He enlisted in the United States Air Force on Sept. 30, 1954 and completed basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. 

His first duty assignment was Niagara Falls Mun Airport, NY, after which he was assigned to Kang Nung AB, Korea. His permanent (PCS) assignments later included: Lowry AFB CO, Iraklion AB Crete, Wright-Patterson AFB OH, Robins AFB GA, Elmendorf AFB AK, Eglin AFB FL. He had many other temporary assignments (TDY) that took him to locations in the US, Europe and Middle East.

Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) William J. Kollman's Air Force career spanned a little over 30 years, all served in The Judge Advocate General Corps (TJAG) as a legal technician/superintendent. He achieved many awards and ribbons during that time and retired on Jan. 1, 1985, having served the maximum service allowed by Air Force policy. 

After retirement, he joined Ginger in England where he worked as a civil service paralegal in TJAG, RAF Mildenhall, UK. For the next four years, he traveled to Iceland, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and every UK base in England.

When Ginger returned from the UK in 1989 to her permanent duty assignment at Eglin AFB FL to finish her civil service career, Bill bought a house in Atkinson and set up permanent housekeeping to partake in “The Good Life.” He divided his time between Atkinson and Ft. Walton Beach, FL until Ginger retired on June 1, 1995.  

All of Bill's friends know that he enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, eating, genealogy, drinking beer and hanging out with his buddies. Not necessarily in that order. So, he spent the next 20 years doing just that and helping Ginger remodel their house, which they sold in 2015 and moved to Toledo Bend Lake, Texas.

Relocation to Texas was difficult for Bill at first. He told everybody that he spent the happiest years of his life in Atkinson and had the best friends here a man could ever have. It was especially hard for him because he still mourned the loss of his sister Eleanor, who had always been a major player in his life. But, as his and Ginger's health was declining, they felt the need to downsize and move closer to some of their children. They picked son Eddie Boxx who just happened to own property on one of the largest fishing lakes in the south. Since fishing is a universal language, it seems, Bill had no trouble making new friends, and finding fishing buddies who knew where the crappie brush piles were. Of course, he made more good friends amongst his neighbors and church members.

Bill was genuinely grateful to Albena Kramer, among others, for sharing a wealth of their St. Joseph and St. Boniface genealogical research.  He began researching his four German grandparents who immigrated to Nebraska in the late 1800s from Bohemia, Austrian Empire and 13 other families who settled in Holt County. His research really took off when he discovered his grandfather's photograph in Franciscans in Nebraska, a book written by a traveling priest located in the Norfolk area, Father Eugene Hagedorn.  Bill's cousin Clara Vrooman, had given Bill a photograph of their grandfather Johann Kollman, who was featured in the book, although the picture was misidentified. This book covered immigrants settling in Nebraska long before records were kept at Ellis Island.

Bill was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, having been baptized on Jan. 24, 1937. He served as Past Commander American Legion Post 87, Knights of Columbus member, Board Member of Sturdevant-McKee Museum, Atkinson Community Foundation member, and he supported local endeavors involving a new library and motel to name a few.

Bill is survived by his wife of 40 years Virginia "Ginger" Pope Kollman, Toledo Bend Lake Texas; six children Deana (Kollman) (Tom) Beutler, Johnson and children Nathan, Sean and Kelly, William J. Kollman,Jr., Lincoln, and children Nick and Alec, Kathy (Kollman) (Keith) Thomas, Leavenworth KS, and children Cori, Justin, Dillon, Truman and Jack, John R. Kollman, Hot Springs, SD, and children Joshua; and Maddeline, Gail Kollman, Chester, PA, and children John and Kate and Kristine (Kollman) (Joey) Blankenship, Graysville, AL and children Ashley and Amber; four stepchildren Kathy (Tom) Hackel, Waycross, GA, and children Susannah and Sally, Eddie (Trudi), Boxx Warren, Texas, and son Alex, Tim (Melissa) Boxx, Dyersburg TN, and children Jacob and Mary Blythe, and Elizabeth (John) Goetz, Eagle River, AK, and children Jacob and Joshua; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers Walter, John, Francis and Robert; one sister Eleanor (Kollman) Slaymaker; one niece Janice (Kollman) Cogley; and one daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Swall) Kollman.