Fred George Kolter

Fred Kolter, 93, of Warsaw Indiana passed away at 6:04pm Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital, Goshen, Indiana. Fred was born November 7, 1921 in Chicago to Fred and Helen (Schneider) Kolter. He was married for 63 years to his beloved wife, Fernande Mary (Ennis) Kolter, who passed away in 2009. Fred and Fernande moved from Oswego, Illinois to Warsaw, Indiana in 1993. He served as a U.S. Army sergeant and radar repairman in Europe during World War II. He worked in the computer field when it was in its infancy, and enjoyed a long and successful career with IBM. He started his career on the technical side of the business, with responsibility for repairing, installing, and programming mainframe computers. For most of his career, he was responsible for sales and account management for some of IBM’s largest clients. His technical mind and skilled hands allowed him to build and fix almost anything, and he enjoyed challenging himself to create beautiful hand carvings, repair temperamental appliances, and remodel homes. Fred was a superb musician, and particularly accomplished on the piano. He enjoyed entertaining his family and friends with a variety of musical styles, from ragtime to sophisticated, challenging jazz. He was also a champion dog trainer, winning numerous titles for obedience competitions sanctioned by the American Kennel Club, including the nation’s highest ranked dog of its breed. He was a passionate and skilled teacher of other exhibitors, and coached other dog trainers for many years. Fred was also known for his quick, dry and often ribald sense of humor. He was a master at succinctly pointing out the hilarious absurdities that life often presents. He was a talented, accomplished, funny, loving man who led a full and exemplary life. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered. Fred is survived by four children: Thomas F. (and spouse Nancy) Kolter, Fort Worth, Texas; James A. (and spouse Linda) Kolter, Sanford, Florida; Susan H. Kolter, Mooseheart, Illinois; William C. (and spouse Pam) Kolter, Claypool; eleven grandchildren, and twenty-two great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held privately. McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, Indiana, is entrusted with the arrangements. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Fred Kolter to Wounded Warriors. Online donations may be made at the following link:https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=170campaignSource=ONLINEsource=BS15067gclid=CNnX8bCAjMgCFVc2aQod22YIbA