James Herman Kolb

James Herman Kolb, age 79, died Friday afternoon November 16, 2018 at his cabin in Butler surrounded by his loving family.  Born July 25, 1939 in Mansfield to John Edward & Lucile Felicia (Hoffman) Kolb, he had been a Shelby resident since 1961. Jim graduated from Mansfield Senior High in 1957 and was a 1983 graduate of Ashland University. He was employed for 32 years with the Shelby Mutual Insurance Company, retiring in  1991 as Treasurer.  Following his retirement he was employed as Vice-President-Treasurer with the Johnson Bros. Rubber Company. 

During his teen years, Jim was chairman of the Richland County Young Democrats. After moving to Shelby in 1961, he joined the First United Church of Christ and shared his culinary talents at the Mother-Daughter banquets, election night suppers and the strawberry festivals. Jim was very active in Rotary International, where he was former president of the Shelby Rotary Club and Paul Harris Fellow. Other civic work included serving as Chairman of the United Fund for Shelby, multiple terms on  the Richland County Children Services Board, as board member of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce and on the Investment Committee of the Shelby Foundation. He also enjoyed time spent with friends in the Shelby Investment Club and golf league at the Shelby Country Club.  

Jim was a life-time gardener, hunter, fisherman and woodcarver. Since childhood, he dreamed of owning land to share these hobbies with family and friends and fulfilled this dream with a log home, sugar shack, barn and acreage in Butler. He loved cooking and baking and was especially known for his pies. He had also written the book "Ramblings, Reminiscence and 50 Recipes of an Old Man" a personal compilation about his outdoor life and  favorite family recipes. He loved to travel with his family, planning many vacations trying to get his family to all 50 states and Canadian Provinces.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Cooke) Kolb, whom he married September 4, 1960; two daughters, Julie (Brian) Frankl of Shelby and Jennifer (Brian) Brown of Lexington; grandchildren, James "Nick" (Nancy) Frankl, Marissa Frankl and Chloe Lattimer; step grandchildren, Kayli Lattimer, Alex and Leslie Brown; great grandchildren, Sophia and Charles James Frankl; siblings-in-law, Brenda Kolb, Janice (Frank) Elias, Larry Cooke, Jane (John) Jones, Kathy (John) LaBarge and Karen Cooke; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, John "Jack" Kolb; in-laws, Rex (Marjorie) Cooke; brother-in-law Rick Cooke; sister-in-law Sherry Cooke and nephew, Mike Eshelman.

Friends may call at the Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory on Friday November 23, 2018 from 4:00 to 7:00. Funeral services will be held Saturday 10:30 AM at the funeral home conducted by Pastor James Robinson. Memorial expressions may be made to Richland County Children Services, 731 Scholl Rd. Mansfield, OH 44907 or the First United Church of Christ, 23 Church St. Shelby, 44875.

On line condolences may be made at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com.

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