John F. "Jack" Kolash Sr.

FUNERAL HOME

Shugarts Funeral Home, Inc.

1033 4th Ave

Brockway, Pennsylvania

John Kolash Obituary

John F. "Jack" Kolash Sr., 77, Brockway, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, at Penn Highlands Hospital in DuBois.
He was born Feb. 6, 1937, in DuBois, a son of Joseph N. and Mary Yakulis Kolash Sr. He was married to DeAnna Troyan Kolash at St. Tobias Catholic Church on Sept. 15, 1962.
John graduated from DuBois High School, attended Ohio University and served in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment of the United States Army; Fort McNair, Washington, DC and Fort Myer, Va.
He retired from Brockway Glass after 42 years of service as a bottle maker.
He was a member of St. Tobias Catholic Church where he was a Eucharistic Minister and a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the American Legion.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved spending time at his camp sharing his love of the outdoors with his family, grandchildren and friends. He also enjoyed small engine repair.
He is survived by his wife DeAnna; two sons, John and Mark, both of DuBois; two daughters, Lynn (Barry) Nelson of Salem, Wis., and Lori (Brad) Pearce of Pittsburgh; eight beloved grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Snell also of DuBois.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Kolash; and two sisters, Virginia Ketter and Helen Bentley.
Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Carlson-Shugarts Funeral Home Inc. in Brockway. A vigil service will be held at 8:45 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct, 13 at St. Tobias Church in Brockway, with the Rev. Msgr. Charles Kaza presiding. Burial will follow in St. Tobias Cemetery. Full military honors will be accorded on Monday morning at the cemetery by Parson-Marnatti Post # 95 of the American Legion.
Online condolences may be left at csfhinc.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Courier Express from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for John Kolash

Sponsored by Jack's daughter, Lori.

3 Entries

Gene Mikelonis

October 12, 2014

To the family of Jack Kolash,

I am so sorry for your loss. You have my heartfelt sympathy. I wish I could be there for the funeral service, but I found out too late to make it. Jack was a generous and sincere person who befriended all he met. Always willing to share his time and his treasure, he was a true friend. Jack and I grew up together on Washington Avenue in DuBois and were close friends. We spent a lot of time playing in his back yard. He raised ducks and had a flock of pigeons that stayed in the backyard barn. There was also a basket ball hoop (minus the net) there and many hours were spent shooting hoops (sometimes even in the rain). The Saturday morning ritual was to make fried duck eggs cooked in butter. It was just the two of us and I can still smell those eggs cooking. They were delicious.
We also did a lot of fly fishing. Jack had all the equipment to tie flies in his bedroom. He taught me the technique and we tied many flies together. The one I liked best was called the "royal coachman". Most of our fishing was done at the camp. He and I would get up at daybreak and head up Elk Creek or some feeder stream to try our luck. There is nothing like hooking a fighting brookie on a homemade fly. I remember once we even took a frying pan with us so we could have a fish fry right on the stream. Usually, though, we would head back to the camp to a hot breakfast of sausage and pancakes prepared by Frank Bentley (Jack's brother-in-law). At that time Frank owned the camp and provided our transportation to get there. There are so many good memories of our growing up days that it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about them. Jack occupies a very warm spot in my heart; and although we each went our separate ways after high school, I also now feel a deep sense of loss.
I will keep you and Jack in my prayers.

Paul Aravich

October 11, 2014

Dear Jack,
I am sorry for your family's tragic loss. Thanks for teaching me marksmanship at the DuBois rifle range 50 years ago (I still have the medals). Thanks for fixing our lawnmowers on more than one occasion. Thanks for taking my brothers and me hunting. Thanks for those amazing overnight fishing trips to your camp with my Dad, brothers and Uncle Tom Pinchock, The last time I saw you was at my Dad's funeral; you said we should go back to the camp for one more adventure; I wish we had. Thanks for taking the last picture of me fishing with Dad and Uncle Tom (it hangs proudly in my office). Thanks for your kindness towards my Mum and Dad when they were dying. Thanks for your interest in me long after I left Brockway. And, thanks for being a good friend to my Dad. One thing is for certain: they don't make ‘em like you anymore! I was lucky to know you. Meanwhile, I don't think you're resting now. Instead, I think you're chasing those big brookies by those huge glacial rocks at the headwaters of that little stream by the camp. May they always be bit'n for you, Jack.

October 10, 2014

Dear Deanna,John Jr.,Lynn, Laurie and Mark; We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Jack. He was a wonderful person and will surely be in heaven.We are sorry that we cannot be able to attend his services and be with you as Judy and I are in Myrtle Beach.Please accept our deepest condolences. Judy and Frank Bianco

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