Clement C. Kolesar, 93, 37 Newport Heights So., Ironwood, died peacefully
Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood. Clem was the 11th child born in Ironwood to
John and Mary (Dravecky) Kolesar on Sept. 15, 1919. Coming from a family of 17
children, he entered the work force at an early age with the death of his father
on June 24, 1935. He was given a special permit to start working in a mine in
order to help support the family. He began his mining career at the Penokee
Mine. Clem graduated from Luther L. Wright High
School in 1937 and attended classes at Gogebic Community College. He enlisted in
the U.S. Army on April 7, 1944, proudly serving his country stateside during
World War II, and was honorably discharged on Jan. 18, 1945. Following his discharge, he continued his
mining career at the Newport Mine and then at the Peterson Mine, where he worked
his way from underground to the position of assistant mine clerk. Clem, George
Anderson and John Wangaard were the last three employees responsible for
watching the final iron ore cars roll out of the Peterson Mine. Clem's mining career then moved to the White Pine Copper
Company, and he later returned to the Peterson Mine as an employee of Zimco U
& N Machinery, retiring as office manager in 1984. Zimco was responsible for
liquidating all mining equipment from all Pickands-Mather properties. His motto
was, "Work will never hurt you" - a work ethic he passed on to his
family. Clem was a former member of Holy Trinity
Catholic Church in Ironwood and a current member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic
Church, where he served as an usher and greeter. He was also a member of
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 and Northland Chapter No. 66, Disabled American
Veterans. Clem enjoyed coaching Little League, bowling,
fishing, cutting firewood with his boys, family picnics at LIttle Girl's Point
and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Clem was a devoted
family man and will be dearly missed by all who loved him. He was united in marriage to the former Rose
Marie Mesich of Ironwood at Holy Trinity Church by the late Rev. Schulik. Rose
preceded Clem in death on April 28, 2008. Surviving are four sons, Clem (Cindy), Troy,
Mich., and Richard (Barbara), Jim (Sharon), and Tim (Megan), all of Ironwood;
six grandchildren, Pamela (David) Dahl, Lakeville, Minn., Jennifer (Joseph)
Springhetti, Oconomowoc, Wis., Kristin Kolesar, Hurley, Wis., Tim Kolesar Jr.,
Atlanta, Ga., and Maighlin Kolesar and Lisa Kolesar, both of Ironwood; two
great-granddaughters, Emma Grace and Elle Faith Dahl, Lakeville, Minn.; three
brothers, Michael, Sacramento, Calif., John, San Diego, Calif., and Bernard
"Bobo", Ironwood; a sister-in-law, Betty Kolesar, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.;
brother-in-law, James Soraruf, Ypsilanti, Mich.; brother-and-sister-in-law, Mike
and Ann Mesich, Ironwood; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, wife and in-laws, John
and Anna Mesich, Clem was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Carrie Ann
Kolesar, in 1970; brothers, John and Steven in infancy, Frank, Tony and Paul;
sisters, twins Maria and Eva in infancy, Mary in infancy, Julia Schaffer, Regina
Kostelnik, Sister Michaelene Kolesar, Veronica Niksich and Celia Soraruf;
sisters-in-law, Regina, Lynn, Zellamae, Betty and Charlotte Kolesar;
brothers-in-law, George Schaffer, John Niksich and Steve Kostelnik; and
brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Milo and Mary Rajkovich, John and Ann Shea, and
John and Lois Mesich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Friday, June 14, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family
Room at 9:30 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the
Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in
Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, where full military honors will be accorded by the
Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard. Luncheon will be served in the parish hall
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Clem, Richard, Jim, Tim
and Tim Kolesar Jr., David Dahl, and Joseph Springhetti Clem's obituary can be viewed online and
condolences given to his family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood.