Peggy Koller grew up as an only child, but she always dreamed of having a big family. Now, almost 100 years later, that dream has come true in the most amazing way—she just welcomed her 100th great-grandchild!
Back in 2015, Peggy shared that she once thought about becoming a nun. She even applied in high school, but her future husband, William, changed her mind. Instead, the two built a life together and raised 11 children.
Peggy laughs now, saying she once thought about having 12, but after a few, she wasn’t so sure she could handle that many.
Life with 11 children wasn’t always easy, but Peggy says it was far better than being alone. “I wanted a big family,” she explained. “It’s hard being an only child—it can be lonely.” Her family only grew from there: first 56 grandchildren, and now, an incredible 100 great-grandchildren.
Koller William Balster recently met his great-grandmother, and the moment was extra special because of the name he carries. “The very first thing we did after leaving the hospital was go to Grandmom’s house and introduce her to Koller,” his mom, Chrissy, shared. “She was absolutely overjoyed.”
Chrissy and her husband, Patrick, explained how the name came to be. “I’ve always loved the name Cole,” Patrick said. “One day Chrissy suggested, ‘What about Koller?’ We thought about it, and it just felt right. We named him Koller William — William Koller was Chrissy’s grandfather’s name.”
The choice meant the world to their big family.
Chrissy explained, “My mom is one of 11 children, and every sibling felt honored by the name. It was such a loving tribute to my late grandfather, and it became even more meaningful because this little one is the 100th great-grandchild. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.”
When Great-Grandmom finally held baby Koller, her joy was written all over her face. “She was so happy and so blessed,” Chrissy told Good Morning America. “You could feel the love and gratitude as she held him. It was an unforgettable moment — made even more special because he carries our family name.”
The Koller family had even more to celebrate. Chrissy’s cousin Colleen was also expecting a baby, and the two were due just one day apart. Colleen’s little one arrived first as the 99th great-grandchild, while baby Koller became the lucky 100th.
“It really felt like a race to 100,” Chrissy shared with a smile. “Colleen had the 99th, a healthy and beautiful baby, and then came Koller. We’re just so thankful and blessed to have even more little ones joining this big, loving family.”
And there’s another milestone ahead — Peggy Koller herself will turn 100 in November. Chrissy says Peggy’s secret to staying strong is simple: she works out twice a day and leans on her faith and her family.
“Faith and family keep her going,” Chrissy explained. “She shows up for everything, no matter her age — graduations, baptisms, weddings, even the little book events at grade school. She never misses a moment.”
Congratulations, Peggy! What a beautiful family she has built over the years. Her story reminds us that if life doesn’t turn out the way you first imagined, you can still shape it into something wonderful and full of love.
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