Rodney Kolle

Rodney Stuart Kolle, age 76, joined his Lord and Savior on April 29, 2016.
He was a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother and Friend.
Rodney Stuart Kolle was born on October 10, 1939, at the farm residence in Pomme-de-Terre Township, rural Elbow Lake, Grant County, Minnesota.
Rodney was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Elbow Lake. Rodney grew up on the family farm and attended school in Elbow Lake, graduating in 1957. Throughout high school he worked at the Fairway grocery store and for G. A. Paulson Builder, both of Elbow Lake. Rodney then started working for the Lake State Telephone Company in Elbow Lake.
He continued his telephone career in various locations and job opportunities within Minnesota. Rod retired with G.T.E. Telephone Company as Customer Manager in Hector, Minnesota, in December 1992. Rod returned to work in February 1993, when he was employed with Hector Communications Company as Operations Manager. Rod re-retired in November 1994, when he and his wife Arlene moved to rural Vergas, Minnesota, to a home on Spirit Lake where Rod lived his Minnesota dream: a house on the shore, a boat in the water, and a cool summer breeze.
Rod was united in marriage to Arlene (Wehking) Mortensen on July 29, 1972, at Peace Lutheran Church, Cosmos, Minnesota. They made their home in Cosmos, along with her two children, Julie and Timothy, from a previous marriage to Clifford Mortensen who died from a farm accident in 1961. After the death of Arlene in 2011, Rodney was united in marriage on July 11th, 2015, to Sharon Jacobson. They made their home in Tyler, Minnesota, where they both enjoyed their brief, but blessed time together.
Rodney is survived by his wife Sharon; children, Julie (James) Walter, Timothy (Lisa) Mortensen; Laurie (Carl) Putze, Greg (Tammy) Hinz, Dawn (Charlie) Deutz, Erin (Dennis) Jensen; twenty-two grandchildren, Kristi (Steve) White, Kelly Walter, Heidi (Cameron) Adams, Mandy, Dustin, Naomi, Abby, Anna, and Tonya Walter, and David (Danielle) and Emily Mortensen; Matthew (Hailey) Hinz, Lyndsie (EJ) Adams, Jordan, Paige, Dereck, and Dawsyn Deutz, Amanda Lee and Erica Putze, Hannah, Noah and Jonah Jensen; six great-grandchildren, Lily, Hailey, and Arianna Mortensen; Denise Adams, Sierra Kaikai, and Archer Adams, two sisters, Sharon Kolle and Vicki (Dwight) Liebelt; other relatives and all who called him friend. Rodney was preceded in death by his first wife, Arlene, and parents Albin and Susie Kolle. Throughout his life Rodney was active in church and community organizations. He enjoyed family, friends, and visiting. He also enjoyed yard work, reading, gardening, fishing, and tinkering with old tractors.
Burial will be May 7 at 2:30 pm at Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Cosmos, Minnesota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to “The American Heart Association” or a charity of the donor’s choice.