Family and Staff
A family owned funeral home...
Kolssak Funeral Home was founded in 1930 by Louis and Priscilla Kolssak I
on the west side of the city of Chicago (4255 West Division St.) and currently
stands on Milwaukee Avenue in Wheeling, IL. The Funeral Home is owned and
operated by Louis and Carolyn Kolssak II. Mr. and Mrs. Kolssak take great
pride in their facilities and attention to detail (as anyone who knows them can
attest). However, they both realize how vital family and staff are to
serving the families that walk through the doors.
Mr. and Mrs. Kolssak are joined by two of their three sons and their wives at
the Funeral Home along with Mrs. Kolssak's brother and a few unrelated staff
members. Each member of the staff is knowledgeable about all facets of
funeral service and are glad to answer questions at any time (day or night).
In fact, one of these members of family or staff has been answering the
telephone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since 1930.
Louis A. Kolssak II
“Every detail counts”. I have been in
funeral service for over 55 years and it is my love and my hobby. I am the
son of Louis Sr. and Priscilla Kolssak . I grew up on the Northwest side of
Chicago, attended St. Mel High School, University of Minnesota, DePaul
University, and was a Medical Service Officer in the U.S. Army. From 1959
until 1987, I directed funerals and managed our facility at 4255 -59 W.
Division. But in 1973 I established our Wheeling funeral home with the
assistance of my wife Carolyn. Today, I am blessed to see my sons Jon and
David carry on my father’s and my own integrity and business practices. Over
the years I have seen many changes in funeral service. My sons have
maintained a cutting edge in the industry, listening to what the generation
they serve desires and using new technologies to meet the clients
expectations. Most men my age are traveling and on the golf course I feel
like I still have much to give and will continue to support my family and
staff to give the best, most comprehensive funeral experience in the area.
Some of the details I consider most important are courtesy, careful thought
and planning for a future event and appropriate response.
Carolyn Kolssak
My father died when I was 10 years old.
That was my first close encounter with grief.
Questions about life, its purpose and why was my loss so much greater
than my peers’ experience disturbed me.
I grew up wanting to meet peoples’ needs.
At DePaul University, I received a B.A. in Sociology, did some social
work after graduation. I met
Lou, married him and he suggested I attend Mortuary School.
It seemed a perfect fit! With
my first hand experience with grief and its effect on my life, and my
education, I was ready. Or so I
thought. Some needs, like the
fear of death itself, could only be met by Someone Who loved me enough to
die for me, to take the penalty for all my sins and give me a peace which
surpassed all understanding and a promise to live forever in His presence.
In 1980 I began my journey of study into the Bible.
It has sustained me and He has enabled me to meet the needs of other
people in the throes of grief.
Jon Kolssak
I believe in people.
I believe that every person in uniquely designed in God’s image.
I believe that God designed me to
serve people by helping them to create a meaningful life celebration that
reflects a life well lived. I
was born in 1974 to my parents Lou and Carolyn Kolssak.
I am the youngest of three boys.
I grew up above the funeral home and learned at a very young age to
treat others greater than myself.
I graduated from Wheeling High School in 1993 and excelled in
football, academics and the fine arts such as musicals, jazz band and show
choir. I attended Purdue
University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and also had a
band, Gift Horse that rocked the walls of stages around the Big Ten.
I was truly blessed the last semester before graduation, I met a
young woman Michelle Wishlinski who stole my heart.
Once she graduated from Purdue and I from Worsham College of Mortuary
Science we began our married life together.
A few years later our family began with Karlynne and then Taylor. We
are also pet parents of two dogs Maverick and Mickey.
I take great pride in investing myself into the families that I serve
to create a funeral experience that touches the heart and celebrates the
moments in life that take our breath away.
Corey A. Johnston
I was born the second of three boys in the small South
Central Illinois town of Mattoon.
I began working in funeral service while attending high school. I learned
from the start the value of service, professionalism, and a personal touch.
After completing my education at Worsham College of Mortuary Science and
serving my apprenticeship I found a new and unique family funeral home to
plant my roots and grow and serve the surrounding community. Although I have
moved away from small town
America
I still hold true to the values of honest hometown family centered service
that best fits the needs of every unique and different family I serve.
Derek Hoeksema
I am excited to begin my career in funeral service.
I am a recent graduate from Worsham College of Mortuary Science and I
am currently serving my apprenticeship under Jon Kolssak.
Every day is a new challenge.
Learning what it takes to become a polished director seems like an
overwhelming task but I am determined to invest myself into the families
that call on us to serve them.
My creative and unique world view allows me to think outside the expected
and deliver services that are unexpected.
An example of my unique thinking is evident as my fiancé and I are
planning our wedding. It is
going to be an event that is a reflection of our relationship.
We are going to have our music, we are going to sign a ceremonial
license instead of lighting a candle, we are going to have a ring bear
instead of a ring bearer and only do things that make sense to us and start
our own traditions.
Melissa Kolssak
Mary Skocz
David
Kolssak
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