Elmer KOLNES

KOLNES, SORENSEN, BEERENDS, ROZENDAAL, BO, HANSEN, TOLIN, PETERS, VIK, SILVERS, OTTEROEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

Elmer Kolnes
January 19, 1932 - July 5, 2022

Elmer Kolnes, 90, passed away on July 5th, 2022.

Elmer was born on January 19th, 1932, in Randaberg, Norway. Immigrating to America in 1952 on a passenger ship with his sister through Canada and arriving in New York. He was a SFC in the United States Army serving in the Korean War. Elmer was proud to become an American citizen in April 1955. He met the love of his life, Delores Sorensen, at a dance in Fort Dodge and they married November 12th, 1955. They moved to Urbandale in 1956. Elmer and Delores have three children Elmer Edward, Barb and Debbie.

Growing up in Randaberg, Norway in a small farming community on the coast, as a youth helping his family farm their land along with many fishing adventures on the sea with his longtime friend Andreas. Once done with his chores, he was off to play soccer, playing at times on more than one team at a time. During his youth, Elmer survived the German invasion of Norway during World War II. Upon immigrating to Dows, Iowa he lived with his brother and found a job farming in the community. He then started working with Becker Roofing Company in 1955 and then in 1963 worked at Overhead Door until his retirement.

He always enjoyed fishing especially his trips to Canada. He enjoyed his Sunday golfing, bird hunting with good friends, his wood working projects, and always had an amazing garden which he shared with many. He said the greatest importance of his life is his family and his marriage to Delores for 63 years.

Elmer is survived by his loving family his son Elmer Edward (Kayla) Kolnes of Spring Hill, Iowa and their children David (Kim) Kolnes and their children Sara & Joshua, Steven (Sarah) Kolnes and their children Tyler, Ava & Samantha, Jessica (Dan) Beerends and their children Mason, Eleanor & Owen, Amy (Eric) Rozendaal and their children William, Aaron & Ethan. His daughter Barb (Ray) Hansen of Blue Eye, Missouri and her children Lisa (Kyle) Tolin and their children Macy & Luke, Mike (Melody) Hansen and their children Drew, Ryan & Skylar. And daughter Debbie (Brad) Peters of Ft. Collins, Colorado and their child Ane’ (Garrett) Fred and their children Benjamin and Molly. His two sisters in Norway Agnes Vik and Gudrun Otteroen along with many nieces and nephews in the USA and Norway.

Elmer is preceded in death by his loving wife Delores (Sorensen) Kolnes, parents Marselius and Anna Jorina (Bo) Kolnes and nine siblings.

The family of Elmer Kolnes would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Rod and Kristine Silvers & family for their loving, caring friendship of our father and mother through the years.

The funeral services will be held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery (mile marker exit #113, I-80) Monday, July 11th, 2022, at 12:30pm with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations be made to the local Disabled American Veterans or the Wounded Warrior Project.

ILES WESTOVER CHAPEL

https://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Elmer-Kolnes/Urbandale-Iowa/1889292