Obit: Koltis, Walter A. (1919 – 2018)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Koltis, Boardman, Elliott

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 10 Oct 2018

Koltis, Walter A. (30 JUN 1919 – 8 OCT 2018)

Walter Albert Koltis, 99, formerly of Thorp, WI, where he lived for 9$ years, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully at his home Monday, October 8, 2018, in Apex, NC, where he lived with his son Gordon and Marit for the past four years.

Walter was born in Thorp, WI on June 30, 1919, to the late Anton and Josephine Koltis. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 62 years, Daisy; sons: Ernest and Leonard; 12 brothers and sisters (Ed, Gen, Ben, Frank, Leo, Ted, Adelia, Adolph, Harriet. Helen, Joey, Elanor[Sister Kathleen]); and a granddaughter, Heather.

He is survived by his brother, Jerome; son, Dr. Gordon Koltis (Marit); daughter, Susan Elliott; (daughter-in- law Lynda; and several nieces and nephews.

Walter also has six grandchildren: Renee (Jon), Lucas, Wesley Walter Koltis (Laura), Wendy (Mike), Sabrina, and Samantha (Greg).

Walter is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren: Ashley, Jamey, Michael, Quinn, Chase, Emmaline, Wyatt Walter Koltis, Jacob, Marcus Albert Koltis, Aubrey, Kristen, Lorelai, Madelyn, Scooter, Jessa, Doug, Marit Lynn, and Matilda; two great-great-grandchildren: Gia and Leo.

Walter was a very proud WWII combat veteran who served in the US Navy as a Gunner's Mate (GM3) on a military supply ship from 1941 to 1945. He served in all three major Theaters, the European (Atlantic) Theater, the Mediterranean, African and Middle East Theater, and the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Bronze Star, which is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces for heroic achievements, heroic service, meritorious achievement or meritorious service in a combat zone.

Walter was a life-time member of the American Legion at the Cecil Tormey Legion Post No. 118 in Thorp, WI. He worked ir Thorp as a cheesemaker at Foremost Blue Moon Dairy for 42 years. He also worked for many years in Thorp as a school bus driver. Walter was a very hard worker his whole life, and also did a lot of home repair, painting, and maintenance jobs around Thorp. As busy as he was, he always found time to spend with his family at their little cottage that he rebuilt at the lake at Rock Dam. This was a very special place for him and his family.

Walter also was a longtime member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp WI.

After the passing of his wife Daisy in 2008, he lived alone at his home in Thorp, until age 95, when he moved to live with his son Dr. Gordon Koltis and his wife, Marit Kirscht in Apex, NC. It was difficult for him to leave his long-time home and friends, and especially his American Legion buddies of whom he frequently spoke. He remained connected by After the passing of his wife Daisy in 2008, he lived alone at his home in Thorp, until age 95, when he moved to live with his son Dr. Gordon Koltis and his wife, Marit Kirscht in Apex, NC. It was difficult for him to leave his long-time home and friends, and especially his American Legion buddies of whom he frequently spoke. He remained connected by faithfully reading the Thorp Courier that never seemed to arrive soon enough for him, and he opened it immediately upon arrival. It took a while to figure out what he liked and did not like, because he never asked for anything, and ate whatever was put in front of him. He never complained. Despite his advanced age he was quite self-sufficient and in good health. He happily took on the duties of his own personal care, making his bed every morning, preparing his breakfast (except when Marit, who not infrequently, made him bacon fend eggs the night before for him to heat up), cut Up the cardboard boxes from daily deliveries and prepared them for recycling, folded the laundry, emptied the dishwasher, maintained the water level in the back porch fountain, and emptied the robot vacuums daily (he called them, "The Monsters"). He, was our "Confidentiality Office' in charge "of routinely shredding all business related paperwork. He became our expert salad maker, and he routinely made a large bowl of precisely cut raw vegetables that was perfect for eating with his customary Wisconsin blue cheese dressing. He typically went to the "Fitness Room" on a daily basis to do a mite or two on the recumbent bike. Everything he did, no matter how small or simple it may have seemed, was appreciated, and he was thanked for his contributions to our family life. Me especially made happy by, and loved, our/his two kitties, Romeo and Luci. He loved cats, but these were a Special part of his family now He was .especially connected to Luci our little calico, who followed him around, and as Walter would say, "stuck on him like glue." Every morning she would go up to his bedroom, crawl onto his chest, and touch her nose to his nose, and he would talk to her and pet her as she lay on his chest. She would follow e him into his bathroom, sit on the counter next to his sink, and wait for him to finish shaving, after which he would wash her face, and "she liked it!" He would tell us this - - story EVERY DAY. When he took a nap, Luci would go onto his bed, and curl up in front of his chest, as close as she could get, and nap with him. This was also reported to us on a daily basis. Luci had a regular position on Walter's lap, especially during the Green Bay Packer games," and like Walter they were both kept warm by that (Green Bay Packer knitted lap blanket. Romeo is not a lap kitty, but is a calm, gentle beautiful black cat, with big white whiskers, who welcomed the multiple daily offers of being petted by Walter. Both kitties had their share of excessive treats that , gramps could not resist handing out, and he was a sucker , for being led to their feeding spot by Romeo, who would frequently look back "to be-sure that gramps was following him to the kitty food cabinet.

Walter was more like a buddy than a father-in-law to Marit, and she loved and cared for him like he was her best friend. She would listen to his stories, from .back in Thorp ; and The War that hi told over and over again and she always had time to listen to him: She- took -him to church, and they really shared a special bond. She would take him to our beach house and mountain cabin on her "girl-trips," where he was welcomed and loved by them all, and he surely liked that kind of attention! In the past few weeks Marit, a glass artist, took him into her glass studio, where she got him to start creating a stained-glass mosaic on an old acoustic guitar. At first, he was reluctant to start such a project, but he was soon asking when he could go back into the shop with her to continue his artwork. That was a special time for them to be together. She gave him his first facial mask a couple of days before he passed away, and he marveled at how good that felt and how well he slept that night.

Every night before Walter went to bed, he would come to Marit and me and say, "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning ….with the cats!" They were a constant comfort to him every day.

Walter will be sadly missed by his family and friends, ,and especially his kitties who immediately noticed his absence.

Because we, just a week ago, discussed with Walter about going back home to Thorp for his 100th birthday, and to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the American Legion, we have planned to delay his memorial service with full military honors to be held on a date in June 2019 in Thorp WI.

In Lieu of flowers, Walter's request was to have donations sent to the Scholarship Fund at the American Legion in Thorp. WI. Please address these specifically to the Scholarship Fund, and send to: The Thorp American Legion, P.O.. box 421. Thorp, WI 54771.

A memorial website has been established for Walter at: http://www.walter-albert-koltis.forevermissed.com.

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