Roger Kolb

ROGER ROY KOLB

Cedar Rapids

Roger Roy Kolb, 60, of Cedar Rapids, passed on to heaven on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, in his home. A memorial service to honor Roger's life will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, 1844 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Roger loved to tell stories, so bring a favorite story or memory to share with family and friends. A private family interment will be held in Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.

Roger was born May 2, 1957, in Freeport, Ill., the son of Charles and Dena (Jenkins) Kolb. Roger's father was a Methodist pastor, so they moved and lived in many communities throughout Michigan. His family first recognized Roger's curiosity with how things work when he scooted his crib across a bedroom to dismantle a domed clock at his grandmother's home. As he grew up, Roger continued to explore electronics. He built a ham radio and enjoyed talking to people around the world using his call WD8MOC. Roger graduated from Grayling High School in 1975 and went on to study electrical engineering at Michigan Tech. Roger enjoyed cross country skiing and helped build giant ice sculptures during snowy winters in the Upper Peninsula. After graduating in 1979, Roger moved to Cedar Rapids to work for Rockwell Collins. In the fall of 1980, Roger met his future wife, Mary Kay. The next summer, they were engaged at Thunder Point overlooking Knife Lake while canoeing in the Boundary Waters with Roger's family. Roger and Mary Kay were married on Dec. 27, 1981, in Ames, Iowa. This was the beginning of a wonderful life of adventures together. The next years were busy as their family grew while Roger worked at Rockwell, and he also earned his master's degree in engineering at the University of Iowa.

International travels were one of Roger's passions, beginning with trips to France and Korea for Rockwell Collins. To celebrate Mary Kay's 40th birthday, they journeyed to Tanzania with the Lutheran Church. Roger received a missionary leave of absence to serve for two years with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Irian Jaya, Indonesia, repairing radios on Cessna planes. The Kolb family found joy hosting international students in their home from Korea, Denmark, Germany and Sierra Leone. A family trip to Spain led by Sarah was a delight. After retiring from Rockwell Collins, Roger returned to serve a second season with MAF in Papua, Indonesia, as an IT specialist. He always was problem solving, fixing things and learning something new.

Roger loved time spent in the great outdoors: biking on the CVNT or Root River Trail, hiking at Wickiup Hill or in the Canadian Rockies, camping at Pinicon Ridge under the white pines or in the mountains out west. Roger completed eight American Birkebeiner cross country ski races in northern Wisconsin. Isle Royale was a special place for backpacking. Roger also spent three summers hiking "off trail" searching for moose bones and antlers for the Moose/Wolf Research Project. On starry nights, he shared his love of the heavens with family and friends. Photography was another passion as Roger captured God's beautiful creation with his camera. Scuba diving was a new interest pursued while living in Indonesia, and he loved exploring the fascinating underwater world.

This last year Roger continued to live life abundantly while facing glioblastoma brain cancer. He rejoiced in each day and delighted in special moments, such as walking his daughter, Sarah, down the aisle at her wedding, celebrating his 60th birthday with friends, traveling to Florida to see Hannah's new home and work place and spending time with his daughters on the beach, camping out in the cabin and stargazing at Pinicon Ridge Park, visiting with friends from near and far on the back porch, and singing from his bed with Reba, Dave, or our music therapist, Rosemary.

Roger and his family want to thank all who have supported him this past year, especially Dr. Fusselman and Dr. Uhm and their staff, the nurses and caregivers with UnityPoint Hospice, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, and a multitude of friends.

Memories of Roger will be treasured by Mary Kay, his wife of 35 years; his three daughters and two sons-in-law, Sarah Campbell (Brent) of Minneapolis, Rachel Godfrey (Eric) of Jersey City, N.J., and Hannah Kolb of Brooksville, Fla.; his mother, Dena Kolb of Grayling, Mich.; two brothers, Nate Kolb of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and David Kolb of Lawrence, Kan.; and special friends from around the world.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Kolb, and his sister, Debbie Orvis.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Mission Aviation Fellowship, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, or an organization of your choice that supports the care of God's beautiful world.

Please share your support and memories with Roger's family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.