Mildred "Millie" Kolbet
January 3, 1931 ~ March 19, 2017
Mildred "Millie" M. Kolbet, age 86, of Elma, IA passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, March 23, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, Iowa with Fr. Mark Murphy celebrating. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Alta Vista, IA.
Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 PM, Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma, IA with a 4:30 PM Scriptural Wake Service and a 7:30 PM Rosary. Visitation will continue at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral mass on Thursday. Online condolences for Millie's family may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Mildred “Millie” Malene Vachta was born on January 3, 1931 to George and Agnes (Schneberger) Vachta in Protivin, IA. She attended school in Protivin. After she completed her education, she was united in marriage to Leo Kolbet at Holy Trinity Church in Protivin on February 16, 1949. Millie and Leo farmed for 50 years in the Elma and Alta Vista area. They retired to Elma.
Millie spent more than 20+ years working with the residents at Comprehensive Systems in Elma, retiring in 2008. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She will be remembered as a caregiver and master pie baker. Millie was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, Rosary Society, and was a charter Alta Vista V.F.W. Auxiliary member.
Millie is survived by her five children, Pat (Roger) Palmersheim of New Hartford, IA, Sandy (Al) Tunis of Kansas City, MO, Deb (Dan) Sturm of Cedar Falls, IA. Garry (Donna) Kolbet of Waverly, IA, and Jon (Sean Dwyer) Kolbet of Portland, OR; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; sister, Mary Jacoby of Des Plaines, IL; two brothers, George Vachta of Cresco, IA and Ed Vachta of Wellman, IA; three sisters-in-law, Lois McAvoy of Elma, IA, Lola (Bill) Boss of Charles City, IA and Donna Kolbet of Osage, IA and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leo in 2008 and one great-grandson, Jackson Llewellyn.
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I am sorry to hear this. I have fond memories of our parent’s get togethers when I was a child. Your families are in my thoughts today.
Jon and family I have wonderful memories of your mother on the farm . You are in my thoughts and prayers.
My prayers and sympathy go out to all of Millies’s family at this time. Millie and Leo were both very special neighbors and the neighborhood has loss another special person, and God has gained a really special angel and I am sure Millie is sharing a lot of special memories with Leo.
The Kolbets were great neighbors of ours on the farm. Many memories .
Thoughts and prayers to Millie’s family!!
Kolbet Family,
So sorry to hear of Millie’s passing – she was a great and jolly lady – always made a person laugh. I have many fond memories of her from our Kolbet – Phippen get togethers throughout the years. God Bless all of you.
Audrey (Phippen) Larson
My thoughts and prayers to Millie’s family, she was a wonderful lady.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers to Millie’s family.
Our sympathy to Millie’s family. I have memories going back to my childhood when we Phippens celebrated holidays with the Kolbet family. One holiday in particular that comes to mind was a Thanksgiving when we had lots of snow. Leo and Millie were hosting Thanksgiving dinner and we had to reach their home via a field. They lived north of Alta Vista at that time I believe. Lovely lady who will be greatly missed.
Sorry to hear of Millie’s passing. We have many memories of her and the rest of the Kolbet family. I can remember working occasionally for Leo cultivating corn, making hay, or threshing oats. I don’t think there is anyone else besides Millie who could make a five star dinner complete with all of the trimmings and then deliver it to the middle of the field with her car. Our condolences to all of Millie’s family and friends. Dan and Marian Palmersheim
Such a sweet, hard working mom. Sorry to all the family for your loss.
Such a sweet, hard working mom. Sorry to all the family for your loss.
Such a wonderful, warm and funny lady. Our thoughts are with her children and their families.
Deepest sympathies to all of you! I have so many fond memories of your mom. When we were little and mom took us to visit on the farm, we loved it. One of my favorite times was helping bale hay at Linus place, Mille paid me more for being the only girl putting up with the men! She was a wonderful lady could always make you smile and laugh! She will greatly missed! Shirley Recker Babcock
Our sympathy to all of Millie’s family. What a special lady!
Sincere condolences. When I think of Millie, I picture her wonderful smile. Teresa Murphy Popko