John Kolesar

John Kolesar

• Father: John Kolesar
• Mother: Susan (?)

• John Kolesar was employed as an iron miner, according to the 1910 census.
• He was born on 13 June 1874 in Czechoslovakia.
• He married Mary Dravecky circa 1902.
• John Kolesar and Mary Dravecky appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Wakefield, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 121 Shamrock Street. Also in the household were son Frank (age 4) and two unmarried male boarders, also iron miners.
• John Kolesar and Mary Dravecky appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 420 West Ash Street. Other members of the household included Veronica Theresa Kolesar. Also in the household were children Frank (age 13), Julia (9), Mike (5), John (2) and infant Carl, and one male boarder.
• He was employed as an iron miner, according to the 1930 census.
• John Kolesar and Mary Dravecky appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 347 West Ash Street. Other members of the household included Veronica Theresa Kolesar. Also in the household were children Frank (age 23), Julia (18), Michael (15), John (12), Clement (10), Regina (8), Cecilia and Anton (6), Bernard (4), and Paul and Pauline (2).
• He was employed as an iron miner, according to the 1930 census.
• John Kolesar died on 24 June 1935 at age 61 in Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan, at 347 West Ash Street at his residence. . His death was officially witnessed by Mary Dravecky.
• Mary Dravecky became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, Gogebic County, Michigan.
• The following appeared on 25 June 1935 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: John Kolesar, 61, known for many years as "Big John" and noted for his feats of strength, died at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon at his home at 347 West Ash street. He had been ill for five years.
       When tests of strength between rival tug-of-war teams from the various mines were a feature of Fourth of July celebrations here 25 years ago, "Big John" always was the mainstay of the Oliver mine teams in their contests with teams from the Newport and other mines. He also won many championships in rock drilling contests which also used to be a big attraction at these celebrations.
       He is survived by his wife and 12 children, Veronica of Chicago, Frank, Julia, Michael, John, Clement, Regina, Celia, Anthony, Bernard, Paul and Pauline all of Ironwood. Cecelia and Anthony and Paul and Pauline are twins. A third set of twins and three other children preceded the father in death. The deceased also leaves a brother, Michael Kolesar, in Streetor, Ill, and a sister in Czecho-Slovakia.
       The funeral will be held Thursday morning, with services at Holy Trinity church at 9 o'clock. The Rev. C. J. Petranek will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside cemetery.
• The following appeared on 27 June 1935 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Last rites for John Kolesar, who died Monday, were conducted at 9 o'clock this morning at Holy Trinity church by the Rev. C. J. Peranek. Burial was in Riverside cemetery.
       Pallbearers were Thomas Yurick, George Elko, Joseph Valko, Leopold Lesco, John Toth, John Roth, members of the First Catholic Solvac Union. Flowers were carried by Joseph Cvengros, Stephen Cvengros, Joseph Krainak, John Pehovic, George Baluha, Richard Archambeau, Alfred Williams, George Kuker, Thomas Yellich, Honorary pallbearers were Mesdames Joseph Valko, L. Lesco, Joseph Cvengros, John Benzala, A. Babcanik, J. Kichak, of auxiliary of the Slovak society.
       Persons from other cities attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Mros, sr., Mr. and Mrs. John Mrs, jr., of Virginia, Miss Veronica Kolesar of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Gulan and Mr. and Mrs. John Sawieski of Saxon.
• The following appeared on 10 November 1942 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Mr. and Mrs. John Niksich, 327 West Birch street, are the parents of a son, John Michael, born November 9 at the Newport hospital. Mrs. Niksich is the former Vern Kolesar. Mr. Niksich is a private in the army.
• The following appeared on 16 March 1973 in the Ironwood Daily Globe: Funeral services for Mrs. John R. Niksich, 60, Ironwood township, who died [sic] Monday, were held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with the Rev. Matthew Nyman officiating. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery.
       Honorary pallbearers were members of the First Catholic Slovac Union, Mmes. Rudolph Semo, Mary Peterson, Joseph Matejovich and Cecelia Rakai. Pallbearers were Nick Pavlovich, Frank Dravecky, Leno Sterny, Arthur Leppi, Everett Erickson and Joseph Kravetz.
       Attending from out of town were Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Niksich, Lansing; Miss Theresa Niksich, the Rev. Jack Kipp, Sister Elizabeth, and the Misses Mary Zrudzieleski, Nancy Semanak, Alice Kuklenski and Mary Jean Mazzon, Wausau; Michael Kolesar, Sacramento, Calif; Mr. and Mrs. John Kolesar, San Mateo, Calif; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Kostelnik and son, Stephen, Kenosha; Mrs. Jule Schaeffer and Robert Schaeffer and son, John, St. Paul; Mrs. James Soraruf, Ypsilanti; Sister M. Michaelene, Oxford; Ed Kolesar and Mrs. Mary Kneeht, Tonica, Ill; Mr. and Mrs. John Cech, Duluth; Mr. and Mrs. John Martin, Streeter, Ill; Vincent Briar, Rhinelander, and Thomas and George Gerovac, Marenisco.
• The following appeared on 19 July 1995 in The Daily Globe: Kolesars from 13 states celebrated a patriotic "Stars and Stripes" reunion in North Ironwood at the Tom and Pat Niksich farm July 1-2. The nine surviving sons and daughters of the late John and Mary Kolesar of Ironwood joined 191 other offspring for a two-day reunion and celebration of Sister Michaelene Kolesar's 50th Jubilee as a Sister of the Dominican Order. . . .

• Last Edited: 1 May 2017