Les Dollinger, 82

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Les Dollinger, 82, of Monmouth, died on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, at OSF Holy Family Hospital in Monmouth.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Dec. 8, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Faith United Presbyterian Church in Monmouth. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 2 p.m. at the church. Interment will be held at Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery in Monmouth. Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth is assisting the family.

Mr. Dollinger was born on Aug. 2, 1936, to Dave and Marie (Youngquist) Dollinger. He married his high school sweetheart, JoEllen Hamilton, on Aug. 10, 1958, and she survives.

He grew up in Cameron, and attended Galesburg Churchill Junior High. After moving to Monmouth, he attended Monmouth High School, receiving three varsity letters in both football and baseball. He graduated with the class of 1954.

Mr. Dollinger obtained his bachelor's degree from Monmouth College in 1958, and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, and lettered three years in both football and baseball. He also served as a sergeant in the 123rd Field Artillery Division of Monmouth National Guard for four years.

After graduation, he and his wife moved to Amboy, Stronghurst and Clifton, where he taught and coached. They later moved to Canton, MO, where he taught and coached at Culver-Stockton College. Once his time in Canton was over, he spent 12 years at Marion High School in Marion, IA, where he received several awards including Teacher of the Year, Marion High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Marion High School Foundation Hall of Fame and Coach of the Year.

 In Clifton, he was named Coach of the Year and was selected to the Coaches Hall of Fame at Central High School. He was also elected to the State of Iowa's "Football Coaches Hall of Fame."

During his career, Mr. Dollinger coached football, basketball, track and baseball, and was most pleased to never have a losing season in football, with two undefeated teams before playoffs began. Mr. Dollinger became an athletic director after 15 years of coaching.

He went on to receive his master's degree from South Dakota State University in 1966, and his specialist's in education degree from Northeast Missouri State University in 1980.

During his career in education, Mr. Dollinger served as a teacher, athletic director, principal and assistant superintendent. The last 15 years of his career were spent as a superintendent at Mid-Prairie School District in Wellman, IA, and Hillsboro School District in Hillsboro. He retired in 1994, after 36 years in the education field.

He and his wife moved back to Monmouth in 2004.

Mr. Dollinger served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Land Community College and Hillsboro Area Hospital, and on the Monmouth City Council. He also served as an elder and trustee for the Faith United Presbyterian Church, where he was a member, and was a member and past president of Monmouth Rotary Club and recipient of the Paul Harris Award.

Additionally, he served as a board member for the Maple City Community Concert Series and was a member of the Monmouth College Alumni Board. In 2012, he received the "Old Timer's Softball Award" in Monmouth.

Many around the area will remember him as a player of summer softball and baseball for many years. He belonged to Gibson Golf Course, where he had a hole-in-one in 2008. His hobbies included reading, crossword puzzles, golfing, and he was a fan of St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Chicago Bears football.

Some of Mr. Dollinger's best memories were hearing from his former players and students. He was a devoted husband and father, and loved his family.

In addition to his wife and best friend, he is survived by his loving daughters, Diane Zundel of Raleigh, NC, and Barbara (Joe) Walsh of Greenwich, CT; grandchildren, Blake Zundel and Alison, Emily and Joey Walsh; sisters-in-law, Janet Pohl of Sister Bay, WI, and Gracie Dollinger of Metamora; brother-in-law, Robert (Teri) Hamilton of Fayetteville, AR; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Dollinger was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Austin Zundel; infant sister, Marjorie; brother, Leroy Dollinger; and brother-in-law, Robert Pohl.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Faith United Presbyterian Church, Jamieson Center or the Rotary Club in Monmouth.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.