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July 30, 2026by FATHER MERLE KOLLASCH
Guest columnist
Big Lou had a nice car;
A 1934 V-8 Ford two-door
Grey in color and mighty in power
Moving my heart with envy and desire.
He played second base flawlessly,
Hit number six in the batting order
Did well in studies, was a second tenor
And always had time for me and all.
Graduating in 1950, he and three classmates, Charles Peter Bormann, Cletus Besch, and A.J. “Joe” Elbert (a mutual first cousin) went to Loras. Class of ’54, then to Mount St. Bernard and were ordained priests for the Diocese of Sioux City in 1958. They were truly the pride of
Whittemore Presentation Academy and St. Michael’s Parish, if not the whole town. Even the
Lutherans, especially all who farmed in Crawfish Bottom.
Big Lou knew where the rubber hit the road. As ‘School Man’, later as Pastor he was respected and loved by all. An admirer once asked, “Do you like teaching and your classes?”
He responded with a caustic “Crud, I just show up."
When he lived in Duncombe near Fort Dodge, he usually walked to the post office to get his mail and was often joined by his neighbor who was a lapsed Catholic. After a few weeks the guy told him this along with some other shady stuff. Big Lou paused and, placing a hand on the guy’s shoulder, going eye to eye, said “Thank you for your good confession” then gave him absolution.
They continued the trip after saying a Hail Mayer with him as penance.I was living in Pocahontas and he was in assisted living at the Marian Home. I’d call him, ask “How
about lunch tomorrow?” He’d often question “Do you want to eat or dine?” How about
Zakeer’s? Be sure to wear your clerics. They never bring a bill to priests, and the homemade pie is delicious.
Lamb chops were a special treat for Big Lou and me too. I called him once and questioned “I have six lambchops. How many should we grill? I can eat two.” “Cook ‘em all”, he
flatly stated. “I’ll take care of the rest,” and he did.
After Father Gerald “Jerry” Zeman moved in to Marian Home’s Care Center, Big Lou could be seen making a daily trip at about 3:30 p.m. from his apartment to Father Z’s room carrying two plastic cups filled with wine, not pudding, for a social “Pre Prandial” sharing.
Another time in the hospital, in declining health, he was visited by our Bishop (now Cardinal) DiNardo. We fled to give them their moment and after the Bishop left we re-entered – “He kissed me on the cheek," Big Lou gushed with delight. “He thanked me for my service.”
It was a joyful sight. I wanted him to be buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery and spoke of it often. “You’ll be with our family – grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, and me and other friends. It was pointless, totally futile. He loved St. Mary’s Humboldt and they loved him as did all the other places he’d been. Case closed.
I told him I was going to put “Forgiven Sinner” on my tombstone and asked his opinion. “You
can do better; you’re an English major” he offered. Returning some weeks later I said “How
about ‘Loved’?” He liked it and the deed was done.
Memories make us human and good memories make us holy. Thanks for the memories Big Lou.
Rev. Merle Kollasch
May 14, 2026
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