With deep sorrow, we announce the passing of Peter Jan Wollner, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
He was born in Pilsen, Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), and raised in Domazlice by his parents Gustav and Karolina Wollner. As children, Peter and his sister Helena helped and ran errands for their family-owned business supplying the town with coal and building materials. After the communist regime took over, their business was confiscated, and his parents were forced into low-paying jobs for refusing to join the Communist Party.
Peter studied electrical engineering in Pilsen and Prague’s Charles University. After refusing to join the communist party, at age 28 in 1965, he made the life-altering decision to escape the oppressive regime. He loaded his beloved moped on a train in Prague, headed through Hungary to Yogoslavia (now Slovenia) under the pretense of vacation, authorized by communist authorities, planning to reach Italy and then Germany to seek political asylum.
With determination and luck, he crossed into Italy, left his moped and made his way on foot across the border into Austria, continued by bus to Germany where he applied for political asylum, worked for two years, and obtained a U.S. green card in 1967.
Peter arrived in Los Angeles, where a fellow Czech expatriate helped him find work.
In 1970, he met his future wife Jindra on a blind date. They married and built a life together over the next 54 years. The couple started a wholesale jewelry business - Peter designed, Jindra sold to retail stores throughout California and Nevada, while Peter was caring for their young children, Peter Jr. and Caroline. In 1984 they opened their own jewelry store, Riviera Goldsmith Shop, in the Riviera Village of Redondo Beach. For 36 years, they served the local community with making custom jewelry and doing repairs.
It changed ownership in 2020 and remains a family business.
Peter's retirement was brief. He passed away peacefully at the age of almost 88 on April 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving family: his wife Jindra; children Peter Jr. and Caroline; their spouses Tania Carlani Wollner and Peter Hohensee; and grandchildren Luca, Alexa, Kaya, Max, and Oliver.
A celebration of Peter’s life was held at the Chapel of the Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes on Easter Saturday and at St. Lawrence Martyr Church, Redondo Beach. Both ceremonies were followed by equally beautiful ones at the graveside, his final resting place at Green Hills, including releasing white doves by his granddaughters Kaya and Alexa in his honor.
The Wollner family extends heartfelt thanks to Green Hills Memorial Park, St. Lawrence Martyr Church, and Kaiser Permanente South Bay, especially to Dr. Flores and his team.
The Wollners have been proud residents of the Hollywood Riviera area of Torrance since 1973.