"I lived across the street from Joe for 10 yrs. Joe often gave me a " hot stock tip, & shared some of the neighborhood history w/me (ie: my back yard was called "Rams Pasture", where the kids would play kick the can & pick up fb games). Once while @ the store, Joe took me upstairs to show me an old hidden dance floor. He said when he was little, there were formal dances up there! On occasion me & Carla would get invited over for Colette's famous stuffed pizza. After, they would tell us about their recent trip to Ireland, Italy, or wherever. It was fun! Abby lived next foor, & Cubby was in our kid's class. Our heartfelt condolences to you all."
In loving memory of
Joseph Henry Koltes
January 16, 1933 - March 2, 2019
WAUNAKEE-Joseph Henry Koltes, age 86, of Waunakee, passed away on March 2, 2019, after a brief illness. Joe was born on January 16, 1933, to Harry and Lillian (Oncken) Koltes. He grew up on Grant Street in Waunakee with his older sister, Mary (Schaenzer), and younger brother, James. Joe graduated from Waunakee High School in 1951, where he played football and basketball, participated in the senior class play, and was chosen to be homecoming king. He later graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in business.
After college, Joe served in the United States Army spending much of his enlistment in Alaska. Upon his return to Madison, he met his future wife, Colette Collins. Joe and Colette were married on April 30, 1960. They welcomed daughters, Abby, Polly, and Wendy and raised them in the house next to Joe's boyhood home in Waunakee. Joe took over the family lumber yard business, Koltes Lumber Company, owning stores in Waunakee and Lodi. All three of his daughters, and later his three eldest grandchildren, followed him into the family business.
Joe and Colette traveled the world together, including annual winter treks to the Southwest and Las Vegas. He enjoyed talking business, especially how the stock market was doing that day. Joe was a keen negotiator and relished wheeling and dealing to get the best bargain. He also liked to play a round of golf at Sil Maly's course outside of Waunakee. Joe pursued life-long learning about a variety of topics including history, travel, and politics. He participated in the PLATO learning programs at UW-Madison and volunteered as an usher at the Overture Center. Joe recently made a donation to support the new Waunakee Public Library.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his older sister; his infant daughter, Jenny; and his adored wife, Colette. He is survived by his daughters, Abby Koltes of Waunakee, Polly Koltes (Dave Langowski) of Lodi, and Wendy (Doug Koop) also of Lodi. Joe is further survived by five grandchildren, Amanda Taylor-Tennent (Ross Tennent) and Jordan Taylor (Ashley) of Waunakee, Jakob "Cubby" Taylor (Emily) of Mazomanie, and Antonia and Josephine Langowski of Lodi; as well as six great-grandchildren, Stella and Fiona Tennent, Lydia and Haley Taylor, and Collin and Riley Taylor. Other survivors include his brother, James, of Waunakee, and his companion of several years, Nancy Baker, of Lone Rock.
A Memorial service will be held on Friday March 8, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at the Winn-Cress Funeral Home, 5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee. Rev Doug Locken will preside. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services.
Winn-Cress Funeral Home
5785 Hwy Q
Waunakee, WI
Tributes
"I have great memories of visiting Koltes Lumber Company in Waunakee as a high School student with both Joe and Jimmy working the store. Later as an adult buying building materials for projects. I have retold the story several times over the years of Joe extending my family credit for building materials to build my home near Lodi and all of the special package deals that Joe helped put together to make it possible to build my home. Without the support from Koltes Lumber I would not have been able to build the home of my dreams. Thank you Joe"
"Love you grandpa "