65433_Charles_Kolpek
Silver Lake, Minn. — Charles Kolpek, 98, of Silver Lake, Minn., passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2013, at the Cedar Crest Estates in Silver Lake while under the care of Allina Hospice.
A visitation with a public viewing will be held Saturday, August 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapels, 126 3rd Street NE, Mason City. Following the visitation, friends are invited to join the family for a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, where full military honors will be conducted by the Iowa Army National Honor Guard and the Mason City Veterans.
Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Charles’ name in care of his family.
Charles Kolpek, son of Michael and Agnes (Josifek) Kolpek, was born May 26, 1915, in Carroll Township, Tama County, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Geneseo High School in Tama County. On June 21, 1936, Charles was united in marriage to Dorothy Klunder and to this union three sons were born, Jerry, Larry and Lanny.
Charles entered the Army in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946. He was stationed with the Medical Corps as an ambulance driver with the 48th Evacuation Hospital C.B.I. (China Burma India) Theater in Myitkyina, Burma.
Charles worked at the sugar beet plant in Mason City, Iowa, and the Fairmont Canning Company in Fairmont, Minnesota. He also worked for carpenter and mason contractors before working as a farm hand for several farmers in Iowa and Minnesota.
Charles played the bass with Svensys Band in Rochester, Minn., the Hovel Brothers Band in Mason City, the Moellers Accordion Band in Waterloo, Iowa, the Frank Eikenbush Band in Jordan, Minn., the Jerry Dostal Band in Silver Lake and the Wally Pikal Band in Hutchinson, Minn.
Following his musical career, he owned and operated Charlie’s Place for several years in Silver Lake and worked for Tonka Toys in Mound, Minn., until his retirement.
He is survived by his three sons, Jerry (Jo) Kolpek of Bella Vista, Ark., Larry (Jean) Kolpek, Mason City, and Lanny (Carol) Kolpek of Minong, Wis., along with his five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; brothers, Emmanuel, Milo, Emil, Frank and Adolph; and sisters, Libby, Emma and Hattie.
Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, 641-423-2372, ColonialChapels.com.