Wolfram A. Kollacks

Loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother Wolfram “Wolfie” Axel Kollacks passed away unexpectedly in Libertyville, IL on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, surrounded by his devoted family. He was born on September 28,1936 in Seifhennersdorf, Germany, near the Czech and Polish borders. Facing starvation after WWII, he immigrated to the United States in 1949 with his family and became a naturalized citizen in 1956. Wolfie was passionate about American democracy, politics, finances, and most of all, steam engines, having been a lifelong rail fan. Early family vacations involved chasing trains to capture memorable photos of them before they sped away. He was an avid reader, loved taking long walks, and worked hard to attain “The American Dream.” After attending the University of Illinois, he became a successful chemical engineer and married the love of his life, Linda. For 15 years he worked at Corn Products Company in Argo, IL until being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work in Brussels, Belgium. The family moved to Belgium in 1975, where he and his wife lived for 22 years. Ten years after their last child returned to the U.S., Wolfie and Linda moved back to be with his elderly mother and the rest of the family. Up until the very end, he was caring for his family, even for his younger sister now suffering from Alzheimer’s. He will forever be remembered for his dedication to his family, for how little he asked for himself, and for how much he gave to them. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Linda; their three daughters, Christina Famiglietti, Lisa Hanagan (Ted), Diana Wilson (Sean); sister Barbara Kollacks and sister-in-law Lila Carlson; and five grandchildren, Stephanie (Alex), Rebekah (Brady), Deborah, Christopher, and Bryce. A memorial visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of Service at 12:00p.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023, at St. James Lutheran Church, 1380 N. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association at www.heart.org or to St. James Lutheran Church (https://www.stjameslutheran.org/giving) at https://securemyvanco.com/YJWQ/campaign/C-13MF4. Arrangements by Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, For Info: (847) 362-3009 or please share a memory or leave a condolence at www.burnettdane.com.

Wolfram A. Kollacks

September 28, 1936 - November 14, 2023