Robert T. Kolle, 89, of Clay Center, Kansas, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on March 7, 2026, after a short battle with a respiratory illness.
Robert was born on February 5, 1937, in Linn, Kansas to Herman and Anna (Reith) Kolle. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, just west of Linn. In 1951, he graduated from Immanuel Lutheran School and worked for area farmers and also served in the National Guard.
Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1956. He spent two years at the naval base in Long Beach, California and two years aboard the U.S.S. Merrick which was on duty in the Pacific. He entertained friends and family alike with his tales recounting his service days. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1960, Robert returned home and worked for a bit at the Heitman Service Station. He then moved to the Linn-Palmer Record newspaper to learn the printing trade. This is also where he met his future wife! In 1963, Robert was offered a job at the Clay Center Dispatch newspaper and there he formed a friendship with Joe Trautwein. Six years later, Joe and Robert started The Printery, a commercial print shop in Clay Center. Robert retired from The Printery, having worked over 40 years as a commercial printer.
On November 2, 1963, Robert was united in marriage to Veda Fahsholtz at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, Kansas. Robert and Veda have lived in Clay Center for their entire married life and raised their daughter there. To most people in Clay Center, he was known as “Bob.”
Robert was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, and he also was a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed being outside and loved visiting with family and friends. He had an amazing memory and could deliver a joke with perfect timing. In his earlier years, Robert was an avid hunter and fisherman. Robert was always a sports fan and loved watching NASCAR and collecting baseball cards and ball caps. He always liked helping out on the farm and he kept an amazing garden at his house each summer that supplied many neighbors and friends with delicious vegetables. Up until his death, Robert cared for his large yard and always took pride in maintaining it. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and loved nothing more than taking the family out to eat and to get ice cream, vanilla being his favorite!
He is preceded in death by two sisters, Elda and Betty, four brothers, Donald, Delbert, Ronald and Norman. A brother-in-law, Darold Jones, and a sister-in-law, Mariel Kolle.
Robert is survived by Veda, his wife of over 62 years, his daughter Jennell and her husband Barry of Manhattan, and two grandsons, Caleb Luck (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) and Brandon Luck (Conifer, Colorado). Robert is also survived by a sister, Mardell (Leo) Voelker, a sister-in-law, Violet Kolle, and many cherished nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Visitation will be held from 4-7PM on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home, Clay Center, Kansas.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30AM on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Clay Center, Kansas.
Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery, in Clay Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church and can be sent in care of the funeral home.