Walter Douglas Kolmodin

Doug was born on August 13, 1949 in Hinsdale, Illinois to Reverend Walter and Grace Kolmodin. On July 18, 1970, he married Kathleen L. Bush of Owosso, MI. Doug is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kathy; son, Dr. W. Douglas (Linda) Kolmodin, Jr. of Osceola, IN; daughter, Julie Ann (Timothy) Slade of Ada, MI; grandchildren, Zachary and Evan Kolmodin and Drew and Abigail Slade; sister, Debra Sue Kolmodin of  Wellington, New Zealand; brothers-in-law, Joseph Stolz, Dwright Bolejack and Wesley (Cheryl) Bush. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Grace Kolmodin; sister, Gloria Bolejack and sister-in-law, Ann Stolz. He grew up in several small towns in Illinois and Indiana because his family moved every three years.  He graduated from Indiana Academy in Cicero, Indiana in 1968. Doug and Kathy met while attending Andrews University where they seemed to major in each other instead of a field of study.  They married July 18, 1970 in Berrien Springs and welcomed a son, Doug Jr by the end of the year.  Doug Sr was an enthusiastic if bewildered new father.  In 1976 daughter Julie completed their family. In Doug’s work for Town Finance Company, he was transferred multiple times, but was eventually transferred to Dowagiac where he really felt at home.  He felt the people of Dowagiac were so welcoming he didn’t want to leave the area and then went to work for what was then Community State Bank.  He truly  enjoyed his work at the bank and the many people he met there.  So many of them became his personal friends, not just bank customers.  When the bank was sold and he could no longer provide personal service for consumer loans, Doug left the bank and went to work selling cars for Pat Abiney at Pat Abiney Chrysler Plymouth Dodge.  Doug always had the utmost respect for Pat and said that he was the best boss he had ever had. Doug loved being involved in the community and was active in Jaycees, the Elks club, and was a founding member of the Dowagiac Union Schools Foundation.  Doug served as a coach for his children’s soccer teams, and helped start the youth soccer leagues in Dowagiac.  In more recent years, Doug served as the Treasurer on the school board for Dowagiac Union School District. While Doug enjoyed his work and community involvement, his great joy in life was his family.  He loved getting together with his cousins, spending time with his sisters Gloria and Debra, and taking vacations with Kathy’s sister Ann and her husband Joe.  His niece Sara Stolz, nephew Asher Bolejack, and nice Arianna Bolejack were particularly special to Doug. His “brother from another mother” Larry Bengtsson, meant the world to Doug, especially in the past couple of years. Finally, his children, their spouses, and his four grandchildren Zach, Evan, Drew, and Abby brought immeasurable happiness. Doug’s guiding principle in life was from Matthew 7:12:  In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 28, 2018, at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Private family burial will take place at a later date in Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dowagiac Union Schools Foundation. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.clarkch.com.