Jodi Rae Kolar

A visitation and memorial service for family nand friends is planned from 2:00 until 4:00 PM Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. A private family burial will take place following the Memorial Service at 5:00 PM in the Johnsonville Lutheran Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Jodi Rae (Gilb) Kolar, 52, of Merrill passed away Saturday, April 26, 2014, at a Sioux City hospital. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to www.christysmith.com. Jodi was born on Sept. 29, 1961, in Redwood Falls, Minn., the oldest of five children born to June (Wegner) Gilb and the late Kenneth Gilb at Redwood Falls Hospital. She was baptized at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Milroy, Minn., and confirmed at Johnsonville Lutheran Church in Lucan, Minn. She attended school in Milroy and Walnut Grove, Minn., graduating from Walnut Grove High School in 1979. She was united in marriage to Robert Kolar Jr. on Aug. 2, 1980, at Johnsonville Church. Jodi attended Mankato State University and graduated with honors on June 3, 1983, with a bachelorof science degree. While raising four children, Jodi completed her master’s degree at Creighton University. Upon graduation from Mankato State University, she moved to Iowa and began her nursing career at Unity Point St. Luke’s in Sioux City. She went on to take a teaching position and then became Department Chair of Nursing Education at St. Luke’s College. She held this position at the time of her death. She had dedicated 31 years of service to Unity Point St. Luke’s. Those left to honor her memory include Robert; children, Samantha (Guy) Matney, Allen Kolar, Robert III (Amanda) Kolar, and John (Stephanie) Kolar; seven grandchildren, Jordan, Madison, Dayton, Rebecca, Robert IV, Caden, and Maddox; mother, June Gilb; brother, Todd (Lori) Gilb; sisters, Kori (Bill) Robinson, Dawn Giese, and Debi (Jeff) Holloway; and several nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, students, and co-workers. She is preceded in death by her father, Kenneth; and grandparents on both sides. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke's School of Nursing. Jodi will be remembered for her integrity, dedication, mentoring, and love of all. Blessed be her memory.