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Joseph George Kolar passed away peacefully on Monday, December 30, 2019 at the age of 76 after many years of declining health. Joe was surrounded by his family’s love and comfort for the week preceding his death.
Joe was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 2, 1943 to Joseph and Sophie (Vokral) Kolar, who have preceded him in death. He is survived by his 3 daughters, Cindy (Kevin) Tam, Kelly (Fred) Piercy, and Kris (Frank) DiCarlo. He was Grandpa Joe to Alex, Sophie, Jake, Freddie, and Charlie and Great Grandpa to Nancy and Vincent. He is also survived by his friend and former spouse of 31 years Sue Brickner, his brother Ray (Kathy) Kolar and sister Jean (Eric) Paetzel.
Joe lived every aspect of his life with extreme passion and dedication in his healthy years. After beginning his career in sales in Cleveland, he moved his family to Michigan and soon after, followed his entrepreneurial spirit and started his own business, Form Tech Concrete Forms, Inc. in 1976. He was an excellent businessman, salesman, visionary, leader, and mentor to many. His employees became family and he put his permanent mark on the construction supply industry. After selling his business in 1994, Joe retired early as he had always hoped to. Form Tech remains a thriving and growing company today with 8 branches across the country and many of his original team behind its continued success.
An enormous quest for knowledge and a hunger for adventure and success fueled Joe throughout his life. Anything he did, he went all in. He loved life and deeply loved his family and friends. He loved meeting people of all walks of life and when he entered a room, everyone knew it. He had a rough exterior with a sweet and kind soul. He was funny and loved to laugh and be silly with his kids and grandkids. He loved the outdoors; swimming, boating, hunting, and his biggest passion, fishing. He loved traveling especially to tropical climates and moved to the Florida Keys upon retiring after living most of his adult life in Howell, Michigan with his family.
Joe had a deep faith in God and a true belief in heaven and eternity. He sent his family a beautiful rainbow in a sky full of dark clouds shortly after passing to let them know that his final trip was a good one.
Visitation will be held at Waldenwoods Resort in Howell, Michigan on Friday, January 3, 2020 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. with a Memorial Service from 6:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. A dinner reception and sharing of Joe’s life will follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Dementia research or a charity close to your heart. To sign Joe’s guestbook, to leave a memory, or for directions please visit www.rbfhsaline.com.
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