Paul Kolz

PAUL KOLZ

Garber

Paul H. Kolz, 101, passed away Friday, Oct. 31, 2014, at his residence in the Galena Stauss Nursing Home. He was surrounded by family and friends who loved him.

Paul was born March 31, 1913, in Antigo, Wis. He was the first of four children born to Anna (Skarlupka) and Wenzel Kolz. His father was from Vienna, Austria, and his mother was a first generation German American. German was the primary language spoken in the household and little Paul started school barely able to speak and understand English.

Paul left school after the eighth grade to join the work force full time, as his mother became a single parent and he had to help support the family. At age 14, he did a man's work in the factories and sawmills, drove delivery trucks and did whatever he could to earn a living.

When the Great Depression came, work was scarce in Antigo and the family headed out west to South Dakota to seek work at the Mount Rushmore project. Paul waited in line with hundreds of other men desperate for work. When his turn came, the foreman asked him to see if he could start a stalled truck on the road. (In those days, drivers were expected to be their own mechanics.) Paul got the stalled truck started and was given a job on the spot working for the road crew that was building roads in the Black Hills for the Mount Rushmore project.

Paul worked in South Dakota for several years and it was there he met his wife to be, Esther, whom he married on June 28, 1936. Together they moved to Aberdeen, S.D., where they started their family and lived for a few years before permanently settling in rural Clayton County, Iowa.

Paul worked at several different jobs in Iowa. He was a trucker, mechanic, machinist, carpenter and even a door-to-door salesman, before taking a job with the Clayton County Highway Department. He worked there for nearly 30 years, before retiring at age 65.

Esther and Paul had 10 children, two of whom passed in infancy. After nearly 20 years of marriage, they were able to realize their dream and buy a small farm in Garber, Iowa, where they raised their eight surviving children. Paul continued to work for the county, but he also raised some livestock, including horses. Both Paul and Esther were fond of horses and trail riding was one of their pastimes.

Paul did not have the advantage of a formal education, but he possessed exceptional mechanical ability and ingenuity. He was a veritable jack of all trades and the consummate handyman. There was scarcely a piece of machinery or equipment he couldn't operate and repair or a building project he wouldn't tackle himself. He often designed and created special tools and ingenious devices to enable him to do jobs single-handedly that would normally require at least two people.

Paul made good use of his skills to make significant improvements, not only to his own place, but as the children grew up, he provided invaluable advice and assistance in their home improvement projects.

Paul never had much time for leisure or hobbies in his working days as he was maintaining a small farm while working full time. After his retirement, however, he was able to do some traveling with Esther to Europe, Hawaii and even Egypt where, at the age of 85, they traversed the Nile and rode camels around the pyramids.

Paul was a man who loved tinkering with hardwoods, crafting jewelry boxes, toys and unique artifacts, to the delight of his family. His creations were one-of-a-kind and nothing was ever wasted. From wormy wood to recycled scraps, all were put to good use, and there was no mistake that a little well placed putty couldn't fix! He also enjoyed annual family fishing trips with his sons, sons-in-law and grandsons to a resort in northern Minnesota.

Paul and Esther had a strong work ethic and lived independently on their farm until age 98, before transitioning to the assisted living center in Cascade.

Paul is survived by his children, Byron, Hollis, Teresa, Deborah, Karl, Elissa and Maureen, 15 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Esther; children, Paul, Carol Ann and Sharon; his brothers, Karl and Frank; and sister, Frances.

Esther and Paul died only six days apart, a testament to the loving bond that carried them through over 78 years of marriage.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Leonard Funeral Home, 405 First St. NW, Elkader, with the Rev. Marvin Bries as celebrant. Burial will be at Mount Harmony Cemetery in Elkport. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.