William Kolb (1891 - 1988)

Born 16 Aug 1891 in Yutan, Saunders, Nebraska, United States

Ancestors

Died 29 Dec 1988 at age 97 in Wahoo, Saunders, Nebraska, United States

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Biography

A biography for William Otto Kolb, was submitted by Margie Swanson, for a 1983 Saunders County History that is online.^[1]

"William Otto Kolb was born August 16, 1891 on the homestead of his father John F. Kolb, located four miles southwest of Yutan, Nebraska, formerly Clear Creek, Nebraska. His parents were Johann Friedrich and Caroline (Witte) Kolb."^[1]

"Bill was always interested in other parts of the world; consequently, he traveled extensively. He has been to the west coast six times and spent one entire year in California. He traveled to Europe three times, visiting fourteen countries: Denmark, Germany, Austria, Holland, France, Portugal, England, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Scotland and Spain."^[1]

"After high school, he went to Omaha to Boyles Business College, then entered a small school to learn to be an optometrist. After he graduated and received his permit to practice optometry, he went to Blomfield, Nebraska where he got his first job in a jewelry store as a salesman and optometrist. He worked there from 1910 to end of 1911, when he went back to Omaha to work in a very high class jewelry store. There was no optical department, so he did not renew his license as optometrist. The name of the store was Scot-Parr Company, named after the two owners. The Scot-Parr Company sold out to Loftis Brothers Company, a large retail jewelry company that had stores in nine cities."^[1]

"He joined the Army Signal Corps in 1918 during World War I. He is a permanent member of Ceresco Legion Post 244, and one of three remaining WW I Veterans of that Post. He served as Legion Commander in 1952."^[1]

"After the service, he lived in Santa Domingo for five years, operating three small stores in three towns with help of the natives. He returned to Nebraska in 1928. He farmed in the Yutan and Memphis area. He was also in the garage business in Yutan with Bill and Herman Mumm."^[1]

"Bill started working for Ernie's IGA Grocery Store in Ceresco, April, 1946, where he purchased a home. He continued to work in the office of the home furnishings business for Ernie Swanson for twenty-five years until he retired in 1971 at eighty years of age."^[1]

"He moved from Ceresco to Westview Apartments in Wahoo in December, 1979. Bill never did marry. He is now ninety-one years of age, still a bachelor and still cooking for himself. He is indeed a good cook, having had much experience. His hobbies have truly been traveling and studying nature. Having been a member of the Audubon Society, he enjoys the different species of birds. He grew many hybrid flowers, enjoyed gardening, was fascinated by rare trees and planted many fruit trees."^[1]

"His only sister, Minnie Sagert, two brothers, Chris and John and half-brother, Henry Paulsen, are deceased. He has twelve living nieces and nephews. Brother Chris's family still living in Saunders County are Edgar Kolb of Wahoo, Oren and Delmer Kolb of Ashland, Margie Swanson of Ceresco, and sister Minnie's son, Karl Sagert, of Malmo."^[1]

"Bill was baptized, confirmed and remained a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church of Yutan, Nebraska, the church his father helped to organize."^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} "Saunders County History, 1983", Sponsored by the Saunders County Historical Society and Written by the People of Saunders County, Nebraska, (c) 1983 Saunders Co. Historical Society, Wahoo, Nebraska.; Library of Congress No. 83-050295 (http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nesaunde/1983hist/saco83-p291.html).

See Also:

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84008755/william-otto-kolb : accessed 20 April 2022), memorial page for William Otto Kolb (16 Aug 1891–1988), Find A Grave: Memorial #84008755, citing Hollst-Lawn Cemetery, Yutan, Saunders County, Nebraska, USA ; Maintained by David Goltry (contributor 47177571) .
• WikiTree profile Kolb-140 created through the import of Bierbrodt.GED on Jul 14, 2011 by Becky Bierbrodt. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Becky and others.