Louis Kollias

Louis Kollias, 82, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, passed away on January 22 in the presence of his family. “Big Lou”, as many knew him, was born in Chicago on February 26, 1933 and was raised in Elizabeth, PA. He graduated from Elizabeth Forward High School where he was a football standout, earning many accolades and a scholarship to University of Oregon. After lettering his first year at Oregon, he transferred to Indiana University, where after one year he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. He returned to Indiana University to complete his Bachelors and the Masters degrees in education, and he met the love of his life, Patricia, whom he married in 1958. He taught high school and coached football in several Indiana high schools but eventually entered the life insurance business with Gleaner Life Insurance Society, where he earned multiple sales productivity awards.
Lou was a member of St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Carmel, as well as the Elks’, Moose, American Legion, I-Mens Association and the Order of the O. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (Soutsas) and brother, James. He is survived by his only son, Dr. Stephen Kollias, daughter in law Gail, and grandchildren Keegan and Nick along with fiancé Cara.
Viewing will be January 24 from 4-8 pm with Trisagion Service at 7:30 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Carmel, IN and January 25 from 4-7 pm with a Trisagion Service at 6:30pm at Stemm-Lawson- Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart, IN. Funeral will be January 26 at 10:00 am at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend, IN. with Fr. George D. Konstantopoulos officiating. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery, Elkhart with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Online condolences and a video tribute may be viewed at www.flannerbuchanan.com Flanner and Buchanan-Zionsville are handling arrangements.
Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart is handling local arrangements. Online condolences at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.

St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church