Eugene L. "Slim" Kolker 1935-2012

KOLKER SCHOMACHER FRY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/6/2012 at 13:16:03

Sioux City Journal
February 07, 2012

Eugene L. "Slim" Kolker, 76, of Sioux City died unexpectedly Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at his residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be at a later date in St. Joseph Cemetery, Le Mars, Iowa, with military rites conducted by the U.S. Navy. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Gene was born March 3, 1935, in Le Mars, the son of Roy and Meta (Schomacher) Kolker. He grew up in Le Mars and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He enjoyed telling stories about his Navy experiences. He talked about the places he had been and the friends he had made while serving in the Navy.

He married Delores Fry in 1963 in Sioux City. Gene worked for Armour and Co., Swift and Co. and finished his career at Carpenter Paper Co.

Gene was a longtime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. In his younger years, Gene loved to hunt and fish. As he got older, he still enjoyed fishing. His daily chores were to make sure the squirrels in the neighborhood were fed and he put food out for the raccoons at night. He planned trips to the store to make sure the squirrels had peanuts.

Survivors include five children, Deborah McKibbin and her husband, Mike of Marion, S.D., Christine Van Wyhe and her husband, Jeremy of Sioux City, David Kolker of Sioux City, Rodney Kolker and his wife, Maria of Yankton, S.D., and Nancy Kolker of North Sioux City; a brother, Melvin Kolker and his wife, Eileen of Merrill, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Dale.