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Edward Kolbe Obituary
June 8, 1934 - July 10, 2025
Edward Henry Kolbe, 91, passed peacefully surrounded by family on July 10, 2025, while in hospice care at Southlake Village, Lincoln.
Edward was born in Cypress, Texas on June 8, 1934, to Louis and Emilie Kolbe. Edward moved to Houston, TX, when he was 12, graduated from high school there, and went on to the University of Houston where he received a Bachelor's degree. From there, he went to the University of Chicago to earn his Master's of Divinity in 1959. He later completed his Doctorate in church history at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. He married Mary Ruth Judd in Seymour, IN, in 1961.
She preceded him in death in 2017.
Edward served Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in Wichita Falls, TX; Warrensburg, MO; Bedford, IN; Lincoln; Corvallis, OR; Seattle, WA, and Arlington, TX, where he built congregations with the evangelism program he developed. Edward was also active in Kiwanis in all of the places he lived.
Edward loved nature, gardening, reading, current events, college football, and public television. He enjoyed sending cards to family and friends. He thought broadly and had a good sense of humor.
He was special to many who survived him including daughter, Ruth Cooper and her husband, Brian; son, Charles Thornton-Kolbe and wife Jennifer; and son, Tom Kolbe and wife Laura Salem; grandchildren, Noah Oglesby, Emma Thornton-Kolbe, Evan Thornton-Kolbe, Elias Thornton-Kolbe, Judd Salem, and Bella Salem.
His memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Southpointe Christian Church, at 7010 Helen Witt Drive in Lincoln.
Memorials to Lincoln Literacy at 1023 Lincoln Mall #104 in Lincoln, NE, 68508 (lincolnliteracy.org).
Condolences online at roperandsons.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Edward Kolbe
2 Entries
Michael & Beth Messinger
July 14, 2025
Ed you are a dear friend and will be sorely missed! My time with you at Princeton TS Summer Institutes are some of my fondest memories. Say "hi" for us to Mary Ruth for us!
T. D.
July 13, 2025
Jesus asked: Do you Love me? Then feed my sheep.
Thank you for being a shepherd.
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