Our dear classmate Ken Kolb died on Monday, November 4, 2013 of multiple myeloma cancer.  He was able to come to our 50th Class Reunion in September and visit with many classmates.  It was great to see Ken and Lois.  Our heartfelt sympathy to his family.  We will miss him. Following is the obituary from the Minneapolis paper.   -Lynn Larson

 

Kolb, Kenneth J. age 68 of Bloomington. Preceded in death by mother, Jean. Survived by wife, Lois; children, John, Pauline, and Troy; grandchildren, Olivia, Tyler, Vincent, Gwendolyn, Brandt, and Gus; father, John; sister, Nancy; and brother, Jeff. Owner of Strand Mfg. Memorial gathering Saturday, November 9, 12-2 PM with a time of sharing to follow at: www.Washburn-McReavy.com Werness Brothers Chapel 2300 W Old Shakopee Rd 952-884-8145

Published in Star Tribune on Nov. 6, 2013

The Memorial Program given out at the gathering on November 9 included a "Letter to Grandpa" - By Olivia Kolb, which is shared below (added 2/5/15).

"Letter to Grandpa"  By Olivia Kolb

As it comes down to the few hours I have left with you, I shed my tears hoping for more time.  I pulled the chair to the side of your bed in the hospital and held your hand.  You looked at me and opened your eyes wide asking me, what did I miss?  I smiled back at you and wiped away my tears.  As soon as I let go of your hand to get a Kleenex you woke back up until I sat back down and held your hand.  I hope I was helping you feel safer.  I must admit, I'm scared to death thinking of you not being here anymore.  But it scares me more imagining how much pain you are in.  I remember coming to visit you for the second time in the hospital about two months ago, you were being wheeled in on your bed, a little loopy on all the medication and high calcium.  I doubt you remember this or did this on purpose, but as my mom, dad and I looked at you with tears you winked at me.  Intentionally or not, I took it as a sign that everything is going to be okay.  I will never understand why the worst things happen to the best people.  I am so grateful to have been able to be your granddaughter and have such an amazing connection that many people notice.  My parents call you the closest thing to a Saint, which I completely agree with.  I cannot explain the love I have for you, or how many people adore you and realize how amazingly generous you are.  As I think about how short of a time I have left with you, I also remember all the perfect times I've had with you.  Thank you for coming to all of my softball and basketball games, and dance recitals.  For helping me study for the social studies test in the fifth grade I promised to you that I was going to fail, then ended up getting a 100% and you telling me how you knew I could do it.  For letting me go to your work and type on the typewriter with jumbles of letters that made no sense.  For taking me to the gas station after school days and letting me pick anything I wanted, which I always picked a slushy then would make a mess.  Thank you for pitching to me so I could practice on my hit that I never seemed to get.  Thank you for the texts you randomly send me asking how my day was, or how sports are going and then end up calling because your thumbs begin to hurt.  Thank you for letting me play doctor with you.  Thank you for letting me come over and mess up your house on many, many occasions.  Thank you for the deep conversations I have with you in the car or the living room.  Thank you for the jokes I never seemed to understand, but now want to hear more.  Thank you for being so stronger than anyone expects you to be.  Thank you for telling my mom I can do a cart wheel, even if we both know it really wasn't.  Thank you for making me happy when I'm sad.  Thank you for never telling me what I should have done instead after a basketball game.   Thank you for understanding all of my thoughts when no one else seems to.  Thank you for being such an amazing husband to grandma.  Thank you for being such an amazing dad.  Thank you for being my hero and role model.  And most of all, thank you for being such a wonderful grandpa to me.  I love you.