Thomas F. Kolar

Kolar Father Thomas F. Kolar, 68, of Minneapolis on September 1, 2002. Preceded in death by parents, Frank and Helene; and brother, Gerald. Survived by sister, Mrs. Robert Menard (Mary Lou) of Rockville, CT; sister-in-law, Mrs. Jinny Kolar, St. Paul; 14 nieces and nephews, 19 great nieces and nephews including Mark (Sandy), St. Paul and Kevin (Angie) of Maple Grove and great nephews Peter, Andrew, David, and Matthew Kolar. Fr. Kolar was born in St. Paul May 18, 1934, graduated from Cretin High School, Nazareth Hall, and the St. Paul Seminary. He was ordained a priest in February 1960. Later he earned an MFA at Catholic University. His first assignment was to St. Columba parish and he joined the faculty of St. Thomas Academy in 1963. There he taught religion, art and drama until Parkinsons disease forced his retirement in 1989. He spent most of the ensuing years at Catholic Eldercare in Minneapolis. The family is grateful for the noble caregivers who ministered to him there. In addition to his duties as priest and teacher at St. Thomas he produced, designed and directed more than fifty plays, taking some of his Thespians to drama festivals in Scotland and Ireland. He thoroughly enjoyed acting and applause in several local theaters. In art classes he painted and sculpted, worked in metal and textiles and clay, and as his Parkinsonism worsened he continued to work to the best of his ability. One of his paintings won the Best-of-Show award in the Sister Kenny annual show for artists with disabilities. He designed, and with his late brother Gerald, erected a splendid altarpiece for the lodge at Catholic Eldercare. His magnum opus was writing and staging a play about St. Francis called Seven Scenes about Assisi. Father Kolar touched many lives along the way. Mass of Christian Burial, 11 AM Thursday at Church of the Nativity, Prior and Stanford, St. Paul. Visitation 4-8PM Wednesday at Willwerscheid & Peters Mortuary, 1167 Grand Av, St. Paul, 651-228-1006, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Catholic Eldercare, St. Thomas Academy or the Minnesota Parkinsons Foundation, 6701 Country Drive, Golden Valley, MN, 55427.

Published on September 4, 2002