Milton H. Kolpack

Milton H. Kolpack, age 96, from the town of Polar, passed away peacefully with family beside him on December 26, 2021 at Garden View Assisted Living in Antigo. Milton was a lifelong resident of Langlade County, born July 25, 1925, to Alex and Elsa Kolpack. He married the former Gloria Flemming at St. John Lutheran Church, Town of Polar on May 20, 1950. Gloria preceded him in death on July 30, 2009. A lifelong member of St Peter Lutheran Church, Polar, he served in many capacities including trustee, ushering and singing in the church choir. In his youth he served as an alter boy before the Altar Guild was established. In the early days of the church he took care of horses and carriages for people attending services. He proudly served in the US navy from August 1945 until July 1946 during World War II and in the Navy Reserve until July 1951. He enjoyed a trip to Washington DC via a Never Forgotten Honor Flight in 2012. He and Gloria farmed in the Town of Polar until retirement. He supplemented the family income by working various jobs with Antigo Vulcan, Polar Manufacturing, Wisconsin Bridge & Iron and doing custom farm work for other farmers in the area. He served on the Langlade County Board and Equity Shipping Board and was one of the first volunteer firemen in the Town of Polar. He was always willing to help his family, friends and neighbors. He and Gloria had eight children: Terry (Gail) Kolpack, Barbara (Wayne) Dieck, Nancy (Fred) Resch, Gail (Rick) Jagla, Ken (Patty) Kolpack, Tom (Paula) Kolpack, Julie (Dave) Benson and Bill (Jamie) Kolpack. He was the grandfather of 25 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed being with his family, making maple syrup, his vegetable garden, snowmobiling and was a founding member of the Polar Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club. In his later years he stayed busy building fences, repairing potholes in the trails in his woods, deer and turkey hunting, trout fishing, shoveling snow in the winter and was avid reader. He also enjoyed his Friday fish fry at the Dixie Lunch and Sunday lunch at Two Angels after church. Surviving siblings are Reuben (Lucille) Kolpack, Joan Labbus, Maxine Baseley: sisters-in-law, Marge Kolpack and Lu Flemming. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Gloria, brothers and their wives: Alex, Edwin (Laurie) Lloyd (Arcelia) and Norman Kolpack; sisters and their husbands: Renata (Hilbert) Lucht, Adeline (Eddie) Kelm, Lorraine (Archie) Wheeler and Doris (Jim) Norem; brothers-in-law, John Baseley, Clyde Flemming and Richard Labbus; Gloria’s sister and brother-in-law Arlene and Gene Kuenzli, Gloria’s brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Nancy Flemming. A funeral service for Milton will be held on Thursday December 30, 2021 at 11:00 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church with Reverend Donald Engebretson officiating. Visitation will take place Wednesday December 29, 2021 at Strasser-Roller Funeral Home from 3:00 to 7:00 pm and Thursday at 9:30 until the time of service at St Peter Lutheran Church. Military Honors will be held at the Graveside. Milton’s family wishes to thank Dr Bart Kneeland of Aspirus Clinic, as well as Teri Hunt and her compassionate staff at Garden View Assisted Living, for the loving and wonderful care given to him. .