Obituary of Eddie Kolecka

Armour – Edward Delano Kolecka, 90, went to his heavenly home Wednesday, July 12 at Douglas County Memorial Hospital.  Funeral mass will be Monday, July 17 at 10:30 am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Armour with visitation beginning at 9:30 am.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Armour.

Edward Delano Kolecka was born October 13, 1932 at his rural home in Charles Mix County to Edward Sr. and Helen (Dolezal) Kolecka.  He graduated from Armour High School with the class of 1950.  After high school, Eddie joined the United States Navy.  He attended training at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii before going on to Korea where he spent time on two aircraft carriers (Valley Forge and USS Boxer) during the Korean War.  While on the carrier, he worked as metal smith in the squadron maintenance department.  He was united in marriage to Lucille M. Kellner on December 31, 1953.  They started married life while Eddie was still stationed in Alameda, CA at the Alameda Naval Base.  Life soon brought them back to South Dakota where Eddie helped his father with the farm and rented his own farm ground.  He purchased his first farm in 1965.  They were blessed with 3 daughters, Jeannie, Barbara and Linda.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening, music and dancing.  He stayed true to his Czech (Bohemian) culture/hritage as he loved to polka. Lucy and Eddie were quite the dancers, as some would say – light on their feet!!!  He was also quite the storyteller and his quick wit was his crowning glory.  He had a gift for making others laugh.  He also loved going to farm auctions and was always on the lookout for a bargain.  As the years passed and Eddie grew older, his love of life never faded.  Eddie was a longtime member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church as well as the VFW and American Legion.   

Those left to cherish his memory are his 3 daughters:  Jeannie (Jim) Wahl of Clear Lake, IA; Barbara (Randy) Kraemer of Armour; and Linda (Dan) Rager) of Sioux Falls; grandchildren:  Andrew Wahl, Maria (Andrew) Peers, Joe Kraemer, Carolyn (James) Keltgen, and Karly Rager; step-grandchildren:  Amy and Ryan Rager; great-grandchildren: Addy Reichling, Lucy Keltgen, Lily Peers and Carter and Zach Rager; special friend, Bernice Bialas; and several nieces, cousins and extended family. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Lucille and a sister, Dorothy Kolbach.

Memorial may be directed to Douglas County Memorial Hospital or Aseracare Hospice Amedisys Company.