John Thomas Kolmar

JOHN THOMAS KOLMAR, beloved husband of Linda A Kolmar, passed away after an extended illness on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at Aiken Regional Medical Center.

John, son of the late John Louis Kolmar & Theresa Sarsony Kolmar, was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, but grew up on the other side of the Delaware River in Harmony, NJ. Growing up in the country, he enjoyed playing baseball & basketball, working on cars, racing dragsters (at one time holding a national record) and riding his bike. He graduated from Belvidere High School in 1966 where he was a member of their NJ state championship basketball team. He attended Bentley College in Boston for one year but then returned home to help his widowed mother. He graduated from Warren County Technical School in 1970 with a certificate as a Licensed Practical Nurse. After working at Hackettstown Community Hospital for a few years, he attended Somerset County College becoming a Registered Nurse in 1975. He began work at Lyons VA Medical Center in 1976, beginning his long career of caring for veterans. He attended William Paterson College (Paterson, NJ) while continuing to work with the VA, earning his Bachelor of Nursing Degree in 1980.

He and Linda moved to Aiken in 1987 when he transferred to the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA. While there he worked in several different services in the medical center, ultimately becoming a Nursing Supervisor for the Uptown Division of CNVAMC. He retired from nursing in 2013 after 36 years of service.

John was also very active in the community. In 1987, he began coaching girls basketball in the Aiken Youth Church League and did this until 1999. He then began coaching girls basketball and softball for Aiken Christian School, doing this until 2006. While there he won the only State Championship in the school's history, winning this in girls basketball in 2001. He loved to volunteer and served 25 years as a pet therapist, visiting various skilled nursing facilities in Aiken. After retirement, John again took up interests in coin collecting and rock hounding. He was an active member in the Aiken and the Augusta Coin Clubs. He was the field trip coordinator for the Aiken Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Society. He also developed a great interest in Archaeology, volunteering at the SC Institute for Archaeology Lab at SRS. He also became an avid Clemson Tiger fan, holding membership in IPTAY for 34 years and developing a family tradition of attending Tiger football games with his wife Linda and daughter Melissa. He loved to be of service to others.

Surviving, in addition to his wife of 41 years Linda, are his three children, John L Kolmar of Bristol, VA; M. Frank Jackson of North East, MD; and Melissa Kolmar (Michael Swenson) of Greer, SC. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Schuyler Jane Kolmar-Swenson, Mites Swenson, Henrietta Jackson, Angelina Jackson, and Isabella Jackson. He is also survived by his fur babies Caroline and Kekei.

The memorial service will be held at 3:30 pm on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church with internment in the church cemetery. A reception will follow in the Stevenson-McClelland Parish House.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Friends of the Animal Shelter (fotasaiken.org).

SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC