Kolstad, Luther Gunnar -- 1926 - 2011
KOLSTAD, CHRISTIANSON, GRAY, BOHLING, BERGE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/2/2012 at 12:45:07
Decorah Public Opinion Jan. 18, 2011
Luther G. Kolstad, 84, of Gaylord, Minn., passed away Friday, Jan 14, 2011, at the Oak Terrace Health Care Center in Gaylord after a lengthy illness.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17, at the United Church of Christ in Gaylord, with interment in the Gaylord Municipal Cemetery. Military honors were by Manthey-Asmus American Legion Post No. 433., Egesdal Funeral Home of Gaylord was in charge of arrangements.
Luther Gunnar Kolstad was born April 10, 1926, in Vernon County, Wis. He was the son of Ole Sr. and Anna (Christianson) Kolstad. Luther was baptized as an infant May 16, 1926, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on May 28, 1939, both at the North Kickapoo Lutheran Church in Solders Grove, Wis. He graduated in 1943 from Readstown High School in Readstown, Wis. He furthered his education at Luther College in Decorah, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He attended Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colo., graduating in 1959, with a Master of Music degree. Luther taught in Mabel High School in Mabel, Minn., from 1952-1956; at Lake City, Minn., from 1956-1957; and in Gaylord from 1957-1982. He dealt in antiques for many years and ran the Thriftway Shop in Gaylord from 1986-1993. He entered the U.S. Army on Feb. 19, 1945. He took basic training in Anniston, Alabama, and was transferred to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., until his Honorable Discharge Oct. 10, 1946. He achieved the rank of Technical Sargeant. Luther married Joanne Gray Aug. 14, 1953, at the First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls, Minn. They were blessed with two children, Kimberly and Kevin. The couple shared 57 years of marriage. Luther was an outstanding music teacher who was known for musical productions. He produced “Amahl and the Night Visitors” in Mabel in 1954 and 1955, “Oklahoma!” “Hello Dolly!” “Music Man,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “South Pacific,” “Sound of Music,” and “West Side Story” in Gaylord in the 1970’s. He enlarged each production to include as many students as possible. He was named Sibley County Elementary Teacher of the Year and Gaylord Teacher of the Year. In 1980, he was the first director of the Sibley County Choir, and was a church choir director and organist in various churches for several years.
When he needed assistance with his daily care, he became a resident of Oak Terrace Health Care Center Oct. 31, 2010.
Survivors include his wife, Joanne Kolstad of Gaylord, Minn.; a daughter, Kim Bohling and her husband, Dr. David, of Fort Collins, Colo.; a son, Kevin Kolstad and his wife, Jody, of Annandale, Minn.; four grandchildren: Christian Bohling of Boulder, Colo., Andrew Bohling of Fort Collins, Colo., Tracy Kolstad of Albertville, Minn., and Stephanie Kolstad of Rochester, Minn.; and his sisters-in-law, Mary Kolstad of Kearney, Neb., and Joan Kolstad of Eyota, Minn., and brother-in-law, James Gray of Roseville, Minn. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole, Sr. and Anna Kolstad; sister, Myrtle Berge; brothers, Clarence, Olgar, Hervin, Kenneth, Jerome, and Dr. Ole Jr.; a sister and brother who died in infancy; sisters-in-law, Katherine Kolstad, Ione Kolstad, and Mary Louise Gray; brothers-in-law, Oscar Berge and Alva Gray; and mother-in-law and father-in-law Joy and Reede Gray.
Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com .
Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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