Carlyn “John” Kolhei
The funeral service for Carlyn “John” Kolhei, 84, of Cottonwood, will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday,
February 2, 2025, at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to
the service, and military honors will take place outside the church following the service. A
private family interment will take place at Christ Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.
Carlyn John Kolhei was born on June 7, 1940, in Granite Falls, to Irene (Halverson) and Odin
Kolhei. John lived on the Kolhei farmstead for 72 of his 84 years. The youngest of three siblings,
John graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1958. He served in the Army Reserves from
1960 until 1965 as an army cook. On September 7, 1961, John was united in marriage to Lois
Sandberg at the Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church in Hanley Falls. The couple lived briefly in
Ivanhoe after their marriage, where John worked at the grain elevator. They later moved to
Ghent, where he worked at the grain elevator and the couple owned a meat market. After
living in Clarkfield and working at the Clarkfield grocery store, as well as working in construction
and drainage ditches, John and Lois finally moved back to the Kolhei farm. At that point, John
began his 30 year career as a Ditch Inspector for Yellow Medicine County. This job fit his
personality well, as he enjoyed driving around and checking on things.
John was a lifelong lover of fast cars. He was a member of the Sparks Car Club in high school,
helping friends work on their race cars. He participated in truck pulling and later drag raced into
his 70s. John also enjoyed watching stock car racing and truck racing. He loved to joke and tell
stories (not all of them appropriate). John was proud of his Norwegian Heritage. He was a 50
year member and past commander of the Cottonwood American Legion. John was active in
both St. Lucas Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church, serving as a deacon, usher,
caretaker, and on the Christ Lutheran Cemetery Board.
John died unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. He is survived by his wife
Lois; children Shari (Steve) Bruns, Rodney (Sandy) Kolhei, Jeff (Shannon) Kolhei, and Tim (Chrys)
Kolhei; grandchildren Tyler (Tianna) Schommer, Shelby Schommer, Lance (Stephanie) Kolhei,
Candice (Bryce Neva) Ahmann, Corrine and Jayden Kolhei, and Jacqualyn (Scott) Hickey; great-
grandchildren Truley and Titus Schommer, Daphne and Graham Kolhei, Reeve and Kellen
Ahmann, Maxton and Rose Neva, and Beau Hickey; sisters Loreen Gibson and Marilyn (Kerm)
DeBoom; as well as many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents,
grandson-in-law Craig Ahmann, and brother-in-law Earl Gibson.
Arrangements with
Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association
Echo, Minnesota
www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com