Walter "Vog" Kolbus

Wetmore

Walter “Vog” Kolbus, age 89, of Wetmore, died Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Harbour View Assisted Living in Munising.  He was born on November 1, 1932 the youngest of ten children to the late Joseph and Apollonia “Pauline” (Galus) Kolbusz.  Vog went to school at Washington Elementary and Sacred Heart School.  He grew up on the Kolbus family’s farm on top of Tannery Hill.  This is where he learned his incredibly hard work ethic.  As his older sibling were off supporting the WWII efforts, he and his younger siblings worked the farm, milking cows, raising pigs, chickens, gathering and cutting wood on their father’s home-made sawmill.  In younger years, he delivered milk and set pins at the local bowling alley.  Vog was employed from 1950 to 1951 at CCI Retail Lumber & Plaining Mill, then began working at Kimberly Clark Paper Mill from 1951 to 1974.  Was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, active duty from 1953 to 1954, and 1955 to 1961 as standby reserves.  He served in 10th Mountain Division and was stationed in Austria and Germany, obtaining an honorable discharged.  After returning home, he returned to his job back at Kimberly Clark, where he met Katherine “Honey” McNally and on June 29, 1957 they were married.  Together Honey and Vog raised their six children.  Vog was proud of the home he and Honey built on Highway 13.  He was involved in all stages of its construction and had the ability to plan and see each project through.  Vog began having some physical deterioration that required multiple successful surgeries including six hip replacements, knee and wrist replacement, fused spine, and more pins and screws than he could count.  He was a part of clinical trials at Mayo Clinic that he was proud to be apart of.  Each surgery, Vog was told how it would limit what he could do, but he superseded all the doctors’ expectations and just kept moving.  He created and designed tools to help him continue living without needing to ask for help.  Vog enjoyed working and could not sit still.  He did more than just tinker in his garage, he would engineer and fabricate whatever he needed.

Vog is survived by his children – Kim Kolbus of Escanaba, Melinda “Mendy” Kolbus of Gold Canyon, AZ, Robin (Joanna) Kolbus of Bethel, AK, Kevin (Danielle) Kolbus of Christmas, Karin (Paul) Gollinger of Munising, and Kristi Lambert of Williamsburg, WI; grandchildren – William Balko, Mark Kolbus, Cheryl (Brandon) Mason, Alyssa and Rianna Brothers, Hayden Bayer, and Megan and Gavin Lambert; great-grandchildren – Sierra, Dimetri, Phoenix, Sarah, and Arthur “A.C.”; sister – Cecilia “CeCe” Walkiewicz; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents – Joseph and Pauline; wife – Honey; son – Mark Kolbus; brothers – Joe, John, and Stanley Kolbus; and sisters – Mary Blondeau, Ann Wise, Rose Poppa, Julia Stevenson, and Stella Graves.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m.  Father Michal Ocran will conduct a memorial service at the funeral home at 6:00 p.m.

Vog's graveside service will be on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Maple Grove Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.