Marty Kolars

Marty Kolars, 61, of Malcom, died on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

The family will receive friends at the visitation held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. The family requests for those attending the visitation and/or the service to wear your favorite concert, wrestling or NASCAR shirt.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will be at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom. A luncheon will be held at the Malcom.

A memorial fund has been established for the BGM Wrestling Program and cards may be mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Marty's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Marty was born on November 11, 1963, in Grinnell, Iowa, to Marvin Dale and Carol Sue (Graham) Kolars. He was raised in Malcom and graduated from BGM High School with the Class of 1982. Following school, he worked alongside his father at Kolars Garage, developing the mechanical skills and work ethic that would define his career.

On August 8, 1986, Marty was united in marriage to Kimberly Suzanne Rohrer at the United Methodist Church in Victor. Together they made their home in Malcom and built a life filled with love and laughter.

Throughout his life, Marty held positions at several local businesses, including Victor Manufacturing, Jeld-Wen, ITWC, DIEMCO, Tama Paper Board, and Cline Spray Foam. Regardless of where he worked, Marty was known for his dedication, hands-on expertise, and his ability to fix anything.

Marty had a lifelong passion for restoring old cars and especially enjoyed attending the Chelsea Car Show. His most prized restorations were his 1971 Chevelle, 1971 Monte Carlo, 1970 LeMans convertible, and 1963 Chevy "Biscuit" Biscayne Wagon. Marty was also a diehard NASCAR fan, and attended numerous Cup races.

He had a love for rock and metal music, particularly AC/DC and Metallica, and was a self-proclaimed master of the air guitar. He also had a unique eye for collecting antiques, especially those "in the box." He was always on the hunt for 4 inch adjustable wrenches, Chevy dealership yardsticks and local advertising memorabilia.

Marty was a BGM wrestler, coach, parent, and supporter. He was also an avid Iowa Wrestling fan who attended countless NCAA tournaments with his wrestling family. He was a Malcom council member, Malcom Ruritan Club President, and Chairman of the Malcom 125th Celebration. Marty, along with Kim, started the Malcom Haunted Hayride to raise funds for the 125th Malcom celebration and the tradition continued for years to come.

Camping and fishing with his best friends were some of Marty's favorite pastimes. He was also known for cooking up any concoction, and labeling it "Blue Ribbon S***." He loved his friends, family, and his ice cold beer. "Mar-tay" was a true character-witty, full of jokes, always laughing, and undeniably the life of the party. With a strong will and a determined spirit, he lived life on his own terms. He truly was one of a kind.

Marty is survived by his wife of 38 years, Kim Kolars of Malcom; children, Taylor Kolars of Scottsdale, AZ, Kelsey (Eric) Hodowanic of Chippewa Falls, WI, and Gavin (Jessica) Kolars of Malcom; his pride and joy grandchildren, Blake, Hazel, and Ezlynn Hodowanic, and Nash Kolars; his father, Marvin Kolars of Malcom; his siblings, Jeff Kolars of Malcom and Angela (Ryan) Rudd of Brooklyn; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carol Kolars, in 2024.