Gerald W. Kolb, Spencer, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the age of 83.
Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Spencer on Thursday, March 14. Father Barry
Saylor will officiate. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., until an 11 a.m. mass. Military honors will be conducted at West Spencer Cemetery. The honor of pallbearer belongs to his daughters, Pamela, Paula and Carol, and his brother, Paul.
Jerry was bom Sept. 24,1940, in the city of Marshfield to
Paul and Grace (Raeder) Kolb. He spent his childhood in the country picking wild strawberries, counting the passing
freight trains, and throwing crabapples at his many brothers
and sisters.
He graduated from Columbus Catholic High School in 1959, and then joined the U.S. Army, serving at bases in Georgia and Colorado. On Nov. 13,1965, he was united in marriage to Gertrude (Rueth) Kolb at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal, and soon after moved to Spencer. Jerry was hired at Land O'Lakes, where he would be employed for more than 40 years. Always hardworking, he often took second or even third jobs, such as unloading lumber from the trains in Spencer and driving bus for Spencer Public Schools. He was a member of the Teamsters Union and was a proud Democrat all his life.
Jerry was a deer hunter and a fisherman. Going up to fish on the flowage and then bringing home buckets of suckers to descale in the basement was a common occurrence. In the summer, he would take his family on fruit picking expeditions, and then set them to work pitting cherries on the picnic table out front, which Gertie would then can or make into his favorite cherry pies and 'Jerry jam.'
He loved gardening so much that half of his backyard was given over to his minifarm where he grew towering tomato plants, kohlrabis as big as basketballs, and bushels of rhubarb. The hard work always fed his family, allowed Gertie to make his favorite carrot cake, and provided produce to distribute among friends and family. (Zucchini, zucchini and more zucchini.) ing snow and gardens for his neighbors. He went from being the new father in the neighborhood to being, as the trailer hitch on his car proudly stated, the 'Old Fart.' He especially delighted in watching the young families on his block grow up. Jerry was often seen riding his bicycle around town, usually dressed in Crocs and a T-shirt emblazoned with a funny saying like 'You can't scare me, I have three daughters' or 'Sometimes I wet my plants.' He would stop to chat, but never for very long, heading off with his favorite farewell, 'Glad you met me!'
After retirement Jerry was able to spend more time on his hobbies with Gertie, like monitoring the bird feeders, watching old shows like Andy Griffith and The Waltons, or reading (napping) side by side in their recliners. Even after Gertie's health declined, they maintained their special loving bond that was never broken.
Jerry was a thrifty do-it-yourselfer. He could sharpen knives and polish shoes and make them like new. He never met an empty plastic bottle that he couldn't find another use for, whether it be for making homemade wasp traps or tomato irrigation systems. He repurposed yardsticks as walking sticks, rigged up a fish smoker using his wood-burning furnace, and devised a fix for his loose watchband using a rubber band. His children lovingly referred to his makeshift solutions as 'Jerry-rigging.' He had a love for practical things. He believed a man could never have too many thermometers, clocks or flashlights. He also had a penchant for collecting wind chimes that probably His Catholic faith was a huge part of his life. He never missed a weekend service and was an active member of Christ the King Catholic Church for more than 50 years. Prayer cards, holy water and rosaries were never far from reach. In his final months, he would jokingly pray to Saint Anthony to help his nurses 'find' a vein for blood samples.
At the end of his life, Jerry was extremely grateful for his caregivers at Marshfield Health Services, especially Linda Carey who treated him and his daughters like family. Jerry and his family also appreciated the support that Heartland Hospice provided.
Those who will cherish his memory include his devoted wife, Gertie; his loving daughters, Pamela of Madison, Paula (Arturo Cordova) of Madison, and Carol (Anthony Camin) of Los Angeles; his siblings, Paul (Ellen) Kolb, Cathie Thieme and Peter Kolb; and sister-in-law, Shirley Kolb; as well as many adoring relatives, neighbors, He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Timothy; his siblings, Marianna Gennett, Dennis Kolb, Vernon Kolb and Patrick Kolb; his brothers-in-law, Giles Thieme and Roger Gennett; his mother- and father-in-law, Selma and Peter Rueth; and his sister-in-law, Patricia Kelty.
Jerry's arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home, Spencer. To share a memory or offer condolences, please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY 149629
