Erling Kolke

Erling Harland Kolke passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2015 in Detroit Lakes MN. Erling was born April 2, 1930 in Moorhead, MN, the son of Emmanuel and Julia Brandvold Kolke. He graduated from Moorhead High School in 1948. After graduation, Erling attended Concordia College in Moorhead MN with his twin brother Earl Kolke. Erling served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 which included a deployment to Korea. Erling then went on to teach at Hitterdal High School where he taught Math and coached boys sports. In 1957 Erling received his Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. This launched his career as a School Administrator where he was a Principal in Littlefork and Warroad and eventually a Superintendent in Jeffers, Atwater, and Appleton. Erling retired from the Appleton School in 1986.
He married DeVaughn Ann Bakke on March 30, 1956 at Salem Lutheran Church in Hitterdal. They were blessed with six children and twelve grandchildren : Julie Lowell Schmidt – Cherri, Dalton Nicole, Ellissa; Timothy Delerie – Demi, Torin Jess; Lorri Kelly Raasch- Justin Liz , Jennifer Jared; Roger Al; Kerry Paul Bonk – Jocelyn, Davis, Miranda Ethan; Corey Patty – Lennae, Alex; and two great-grandchildren, Sawyer Schmidt and Payton Raasch.
Many people will remember Erling as one of the most generous and caring individuals they knew. He was always sending off donations, attending church services and bible studies, calling bingo and holding the honor of King at Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes where he resided for the last 2 years.
In his more active years following retirement Erling was involved with many volunteer organizations such as the Lake Agassiz Regional Library Board, Beach Captain for the Big Cormorant Lake Association, teaching AARP ’55 Alive Defensive Driving Classes and was instrumental in the Minnesota State High School League amendment for visual arts . He was on numerous boards, but was most active with the Cormorant Lions where he served as secretary for 5 years and won the Melvin Jones award. Erling was a member of Cormorant Lutheran Church, rural Lake Park where he served as the secretary on the Building committee and the old church memorial. He was the chairman of the church council archives and was a part of the building needs committee and restoration work on the old steeple. Lastly, his hobby of photography landed him the church photographer position.
Over the course of 30 years Erling and DeVaughn worked on their lake home. They designed and built their place on Big Cormorant Lake while working and raising their family. Still to this day the house stands and is a gathering place for Erling’s family. Once they moved permanently to the lake home he was able to dedicate more time to several of his favorite hobbies including wood working and writing. As a result, Streets of Honor and Grandma Dee’s Daily Tips were written and self-published.
Erling is survived by his children, twin brother Earl of Cambridge MN, and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife DeVaughn, his parents, and sister Harriet. As in his giving nature, he has donated his body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Cormorant Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.