Ernst "Frank" Koller

Ernst “Frank” Koller

September 11, 1929 ~ September 21, 2022

Ernst FRANK Koller, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah while surrounded by his family. Frank was born on September 11, 1929 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Emma Augusta Schoettelndreyer and Ernst George Koller. He was the youngest of three children and the first to be born in the United States, after his family immigrated from Germany in 1928. Frank was raised in Salt Lake City, where the family moved when he was 10 months old. Frank graduated from South High School in June 1946. 

In 1948, he began serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France and he loved the two and a half years that he spent there. Frank had a gift for languages and was fluent in German and French and used those languages as often as he could. He served in the Army from 1952 to 1954 and was stationed in Germany. 

Frank had a brilliant mind and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, a Master’s degree from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. from Penn State University. He taught Geography as a college professor for 30 years, spending most of those years at California State University, Fresno. He also had opportunities during those years to be a visiting professor at Rhodes University in South Africa, Sydney Teacher’s College in Australia, and the University of Munster in Germany. He had a passion for travel and seeing the world.  He documented his numerous travels with thousands of pictures and many, many stories. 

Frank was blessed with the ability to make this world a more beautiful place. He had a green thumb and throughout the years maintained a wide variety of plants, his favorite being roses. If one wasn’t sure where Frank was, then they knew to check the yard where he spent many hours. 

Frank met his eternal companion, Margene Lois Robbins, in Los Angeles where they were both teaching. They were married on August 26, 1960 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. Their union was blessed by a son and a daughter whose lives were enriched by his love, support, and example. He will be remembered as a man of faith and service. He loved his religion and lived it faithfully, serving in whatever capacity he was needed. He served in three Bishoprics, was a Stake Mission Leader and served a mission at the dry-pack cannery in Ogden, Utah for many years. His most cherished calling was serving for a decade in the German Extraction Program. One of his passions was genealogy, and he spent countless hours researching his family lines and adding to them as family members were found. Frank will always be remembered as a man who was devoted to his family and just loved spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren. 

Frank is survived by his wife of 62 years; his son, Quinn Koller (Cheri) of Springville, Utah; and his daughter, Robyn Smith (Blair) of West Wendover, Nevada. He also leaves behind six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who will all miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Wilford and Mary Koller; sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Ken Harris; and granddaughter, Hope Smith.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at McKay Dee Hospital and the staff at Fairfield Village, especially Marcia and Nick, for Frank’s excellent care in his last days.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Ogden City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund.

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