Sylvia Kolstad

Sylvia “Syl” Kolstad passed away in Forest Lake, Minnesota surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle against COPD on February 11, 2019. Sylvia was born in Eveleth, MN to Michael and Mary Anich. She was the sixth of eight children, with five older sisters and two younger brothers. She graduated from high school in 1956 and went to work at the East Range Clinic as a billing specialist where some friends introduced her to the love of her life Roger Elton Kolstad. They remained married for 58 years. On October 22, 1960, they married and moved to the Twin Cities to start a life together. Roger as an owner of a barber shop and beauty salon and Sylvia as a happy homemaker in Circle Pines, MN. They raised three children together twins Jeff and Jodi born in 1963, and Brad born in 1966. The family remained in Circle Pines until 1973 when Roger and Sylvia both got their real estate licenses and opened Northland Realty in Lino Lakes MN. Roger pursued real estate full time while Syl supported him part time when she could. She remained busy volunteering as a camp fire den mother, class room mother, school librarian, and shuttling her kids to numerous sports and activities as their most excitable fan. In the neighborhood she was the cool Kool-aide mom entertaining the neighbor kids and making sure they had snacks and cookies while they played and always made sure they got home safely for dinner. In 1974, the family moved to Lino Lakes and Rog and Syl general contracted the first of two homes in the woods – the final home they remained in for nearly 40 years - from 1977 until their retirement to Cherrywood Pointe assisted living in 2016. Family frequently gathered at home as the door was always open to family and friends especially at holiday time where Sylvia’s talented decorator skills would deck the halls with her beautiful Christmas decorations and ply all visitors with buckets (21 different kinds!) of home-made Christmas cookies. The kids spent hours playing hockey on their front pond, where she would bring hot chocolate and Grandpa kept the bon fire going to keep them warm. In the summer her yard was gorgeous with her beautiful flower beds. She indulged the kids with orphan animals including Yaky the pet wood duck, Jimmy the crow and their beloved black labs Duchess and Bobbi. Sylvia was an avid reader, scrabble player, daily paper cross word solver, and had a killer instinct in all things involving trivia and board games. She loved following North Star and then Wild Hockey and following her grandkids hockey and sport teams. She loved to travel and took bucket list trips to Alaska and Europe, and took nieces and nephews and then grand kids on excursions every summer in turn. Sylvia is survived by her husband of 58 years, Roger; two sons, Jeff and Brad (Sue); daughter, Jodi (Mernie); seven grandchildren, Derek (Molly), Amanda, Amy, Marin, Brooke, Sam and Claire; three great grandchildren, Henry, Vivian and Charles; sisters, Julia, Mildred; brothers, George (Mary) and Joe (Joni). Sylvia is preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Mary Anich; sisters, Mary (Tony), Rosie, and Annie (LeRoy). A Celebration of Syl’s life, 5 PM Monday, February 18th with visitation beginning at 3 PM at Roberts Family Life Celebration Home, Forest Lake. Sylvia requests that memorials be expressed by making donations in Sylvia's name to the American Red Cross.