John William Kolesar

After a 4 year struggle with Alzheimer’s, John William Kolesar died peacefully on August 29, 2018. Son of Clella and John Kolesar, he was born in Jet, Oklahoma on April 19, 1931. John was the second of 6 children. John was diagnosed with polio at the age of 16, and underwent successful back surgery in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Jet High School and then achieved an associate’s degree from Oklahoma A&M College in 1953.

John and his wife Joan relocated to Kansas City, Missouri where John began his career at Westinghouse as a tool and die maker. Eventually retiring from Allied-Signal (Bendix) in 1991, he finished his career as a tool designer and Sr. Process Engineer. His mechanical ability led to a job that lasted 38 years, in addition to managing the maintenance needs of a mobile home park.

John is most noted for his work with the youth from the Belton, Missouri community. In 1971 he helped reorganize the Belton High School Booster Club and served as the organization’s President for nine years. John subsequently served on the Belton Baseball Association and organized the Surburban Colt League in the area. He became the Colt Director of the Northern Zone of the West Region and conducted tournaments in Kansas and Missouri.

In 1995, John was recognized for his work with youth baseball when he was presented the Joe E. Brown Fellowship Award for his support of Pony League Baseball. Additionally, he started volunteering for Belton High School Athletics where he filmed games for Football and announced for Volleyball and Basketball games. After 24 years of service he was recognized and inducted into the Belton High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

His last commitment to his community was as a Lion’s Club member. He volunteered many hours video taping many events for the Belton Lions Club including parades and veteran’s events. In 1989 he was recognized as the Belton Lion’s Club Man of the Year.

John and his wife Joan were married for 67 years this August. They are the parents of Janell Cecil of Knoxville, Tennessee, Johnna Donovan of St. Joesph, Missouri, James Kolesar of Augusta, Kansas and Janet Pressly of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and the grandparents of 11 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by two brothers, Jene and Joe Kolesar and survived by his brother Jim and two sisters Joann Via and Janice Farley.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleygeorgebelton.com for the Kolesar family.