Herbert E. Kolbe

Herbert E. Kolbe 82, 4416 County Highway O, Marathon, died Monday December 30, 2002 in Boca Raton, Florida, his winter residence. He was born October 15, 1920 in the town of Marathon, one of four sons of the late Ernest and Louise (Lucht) Kolbe. He married Marian Kozlowski in Wausau on September 5, 1942, and they celebrated 60 years of marriage last fall. Herb spent his younger years working on the farm, at local sawmills, and doing carpentry work. In 1946, Herb and his brother, Ervin, began what is known today as Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co. For the first two years, they were the only employees, when brother Walter joined the Company in a sales capacity. Later, the fourth brother, Arnold, also joined the Company. Little did they realize that the humble start in a wash house on the family farm, using a Sears and Roebuck table saw would grow into a world-class manufacturer of windows and doors, with a distribution system covering all fifty states, as well as several foreign countries. Despite experiencing the tremendous growth and success of the Company, Herb never forgot the importance of its number one asset: the many wonderful employees who assisted in building the Company and were considered as family. He understood and stressed the responsibility of the Company to provide a livelihood not only for the 1700 families directly employed by Kolbe & Kolbe, but also for the thousands worldwide who specified, sold, and delivered the product produced by the Kolbe factories. Herb had a particular interest in sawmills and logging operations, visiting many sites as he traveled around the country. Many days were spent at the Company's sawmill, rekindling the memories of his younger days. Herb also loved providing input into the design, and overseeing the construction of the 25 additions made to the original Wausau factory over the past fifty years. He also designed several log cabins, as well as the Company's recently constructed conference and meeting facility called "The Lodge". Survivors include his wife, Marian, of rural Marathon; two daughters, Judith (Randall) Gorski of Wausau, and Monna-Sue Kolbe, of Madison; one brother, Arnold (Wilma) Kolbe, of rural Marathon; and two sisters-in-law, Sharon Kolbe of rural Marathon, and Vietta Kolbe, of Rib Mountain and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bernard & Lorraine Spatz, Wausau. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter, in 1998, and Ervin, in 2000. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2003 at Immanuel Baptist Church, Rib Mountain. Rev. Richard Krenz and Rev. Roger Davis will officiate. Entombment will be in Memorial Chapel Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Friends may pay their respects at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Herb was a man of great faith, knowing that all things were possible only because it was God's will. He actively supported missionary efforts that proclaimed Christianity. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the charity of your choice or to a memorial fund established that will fund the spread of the Gospel message throughout the world. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16