Jerome "Jerry" A. Kolar

Mr. Jerome “Jerry” Kolar, 91 of Minden City, passed away Monday morning, June 13, 2022 at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe.

            Jerry was born on August 1, 1930 to David and Helen (Bezemek) Kolar of Minden City. He married Lucille Vogel on October at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ruth. She preceded him in death on November, 2016.

Jerry lived on the family farm his entire life.  He was a dairy and crop farmer during most of his life and later raised beef cattle.  Jerry was a 60 year member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Men's Club and Ushers.  He was a Charter Member of the Ruth Knights of Columbus, the Michigan Milk Producers Organization, served on the Minden Township Board of Review with a Lifetime Member of 50 years designation  and participated in many other civic organizations He was a graduate of Minden City High School.  Jerry and Lucille enjoyed family gatherings, euchre card games, community dances, traveling and following the activities of their three generations of family.

Jerry is survived by ten children: Jean Markley (Bob) of Cashiers, NC, Don Kolar (Barb) of Minden City, MI,  Bob Kolar (Lisa) of Palms,MI, Richard Kolar (Patricia) of Minden City,MI,  Bill Kolar (Joan) of Minden City, MI, Elaine McCoy (Mark) of Loxahatchee, FL, JoAnn Link (Ralph) of Minden City, MI, Bonnie Kirkegaard (Aage) of Silkeborg, Denmark, Cindy Featheringill of Carmel IN and Debbie Block (Marty) of Ruth MI; 

26 grandchildren including Bob Markley, Jeff Markley, David Kolar, Brad Kolar, Audrey Essenmacher , Jessie Kolar, Katie VanConant, Bryan Kolar, Andrea Myers, Michelle Depcinski, Mitchell Kolar, Jane O'Dell, Steven Kolar, Mark McCoy, Ashley Huffman, Joey McCoy, Jeanna Conroy, Kelly Krueger, Eric Link, Nikolas Kirkegaard, Matias Kirkegaard,Abby Featheringill, Shelby Featheringill, Sarah Lemanski ,Kelsey Block and Morgan Block; 3 step-grandchildren, Amy, Chuck and Danny Ettinger. Jerry has 52 great grandchildren; his sisters, Rose Messing, Jane Gentner and Betty (Don) Schumacher; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law,  Joe Messing, John (Elaine) Vogel, Jane Vogel, Mary (LaVern) Shemka, Pat Vogel, Evelyn (Roger) Stolicker, Frank (Nancy) Vogel, Catherine Cleveland, Theresa (Tom) Kahlo and Carol Osborne; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 65 years, Lucille and infant daughter, Mary, sisters, Marion Messing and Theresa Glass; in-laws, Adolph and Adelle Vogel,  Richard Glass, Russel Messing, Duane Gentner, William (Virginia) Vogel, Charles Vogel, Art Vogel, Kate Vogel, Tony Vogel, Ruth Vogel Lawrence Vogel, Ann Vogel, Betty Kubacki, Eugene Kubacki, and Ralph Osborne.

            Mass of Christian burial will be 11 am Thursday, June 15 at St. Mary Catholic Church, St. Isidore Parish of Ruth. Rev. Matthew Federico, pastor, will officiate. Jerry will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Lucille, in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Parisville.

Visitation will be at the Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Wednesday from 3:00-8:00 p.m. and Thursday at St. Mary Church from 10:00 am until the Mass at 11:00 am. There will also be a parish vigil service Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm at the funeral home.