Founder of Turf Supply Co. Dies at 90: Recent Deaths

John "Jack" Kolb

John "Jack" Kolb, of Mendota Heights, died on July 10 at the age of 90.

Kolb was raised on a cheese farm in Argonne, WI. After graduating from Pulaski High School in 1941 he joined the war effort,  serving as a machinist mate and submariner until January 1946. He resumed his education at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in agronomy. It was there that he met his future wife, Rajah, who was working as a secretary in the Plant Pathology Department. The two were wed on May 5, 1951. 

Over the course of his career, Kolb became a successful entrepreneur, founding the Turf Supply Co. of Eagan in 1971. In his leisure, he devoted himself to his family and civic pursuits such as the Sierra Club, the Knights of Columbus, and his parish community of St. Joseph's in West St. Paul. 

Kolb is preceded in death by his parents, Conrad and Ruth, and his sister Alice. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rajah, and their five children Michael, Dekalb, IL; Melanie (Christian) Schmidt, St. Cloud, MN; David (Karen), Minnetrista, MN; John (Susan), St. Cloud, MN; and Amelia (Richard) Daniels, Eau Claire, WI; 17 grandchildren; his brother, James; sister, Margaret and many friends and relatives. 

Visitation will be held on July 14, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Klecatsky & Sons in West St. Paul and July 15, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at West St. Paul's Church of St. Joseph (1154 Seminole Avenue). A mass of Christian burial will be held on July 15, at 11 a.m. at the church. 

William Jean Olson

William Jean Olson, a former research chemist at EcoLab, died on July 8, 2013 at the age of 70. 

Olson was a longtime resident of Mendota Heights, but he was born in Chisholm, MN. He graduated from Chisholm High School as a National Merit Scholar and an Eagle Scout. After high school he attended the University of Minnesota, attaining with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Microbiology followed by an MPH in Environmental Health. He also earned a law degree from Hamline University.

For eight years he worked as a research chemist at EcoLab. He enjoyed an encore career as an attorney for the St. Paul Companies (Travelers) and Northland Insurance. 

Olson is survived by Alicia, his wife of 43 years; daughter, Evey (Kevin) Wellman; grandson, Cody William Wellman; brother, Robert (Sue) Olson of White Bear Lake; sisters, Renee Olson of Chisholm & Melanie (Paul) Sterns of Hibbing; nephews, Robert and Michael Sterns of Hibbing; and many other relatives and friends.