John Kolstoe, 60, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at Meritcare Northwest Campus, Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at Salem Lutheran Church, rural Oklee, MN with Reverend Bob Paulson officiating. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery, Oklee, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Salem Lutheran Church, Oklee, MN with a 7:30 Prayer service on Saturday evening and one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday.

John was born April 6, 1948, in Crookston, MN, to the late Soren and Gladys (Hillesland) Kolstoe. He was baptized and confirmed in Salem Lutheran Church. He attended Oklee School, graduating in 1966. He attended Northland College for one year and completed his education at Bemidji State University in 1970.

On January 4, 1969, John married Jane (Linder) at Salem Lutheran Church in rural Oklee. They moved to rural Oklee in 1971, purchasing the farm he resided on until his death.

John was a life-long active member of Salem Lutheran Church, serving as President, treasurer, council member and numerous other positions. He was a member of the Garnes township board. In 1979, John and Jane were named the outstanding dairy couple and in 1980, they were awarded the outstanding conservation couple. In 1985, John and Jane were awarded the King Agassiz.

John loved spending time with his family whenever he could. When John was not busy with his family, farming or fishing, he was an avid woodworker and craftsman. He especially enjoyed building furniture (cabinets, dressers, doll houses, etc) for his family. He enjoyed the challenge of fixing the unfixable, creating something new from spare parts, and transforming the useless into the useful. John was the type of man who would drop everything to go and help anyone who asked for his help, a trait that will be sorely missed. His ingenuity and resourcefulness were a blessing to all that knew him

John is survived by his wife of thirty-nine years, Jane, his son and his wife, Eric and Nancy of Glenwood, MN; his son and his wife, Matthew and Lisa of Oklee; his son Leif of Thief River Falls and daughter Sonia of Moorhead. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Hannah, Peyton, Emily and Brooke. He also leaves behind two sisters, Oline (Don) Bohm; Susan (Mark) Kolstoe; and one brother, Tom (Diane) Kolstoe; mother-in-law Inga Linder; brother-in-law Orrin (Phyllis) Linder and special friends, Craig and Sandy Holmstrom. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law, Oscar Linder.

ORGANIST: Doreen Bohm
SOLOIST: Erica Larson
SELECTIONS: The King is Coming and Precious Lord Take My Hand
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: O Christ The Same, I The Lord Of Sea and Sky
CASKETBEARERS: Jeff Bohm, Mark Bohm, Chris Kolstoe, Mike Kolstoe, Ted Linder, Mark Spong