Robert Lyle Kolodji

Robert Lyle Kolodji, 94 of Aitkin died peacefully at home surrounded by family on March 14, 2026. He was born April 23, 1931 in Bertha, MN. the son of Stanley and Magdalene (Thrune) Kolodji.  Bob attended District 47 in Clarissa, MN through the 8th grade and then Clarissa High School.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and was honorably discharged in 1954 at the rank of Sgt.  After leaving the military he went to Miami, FL and worked on getting his endorsements for flying. He came back to Minnesota and worked a variety of jobs including: farming, mining the Mesabi Range in Hibbing, welding, and working as a Flight Instructor, to name a few.  On November 24, 1958 Robert was united in marriage to the love of his life, Janice Volkmann. They had 67 wonderful years of marriage and raised five children.  They soon moved to Indiana where Bob worked as an Air Traffic Controller for two years and then moved back to Clarissa, MN and started a business selling dairy equipment. Throughout the remainder of his working life, he sold barn equipment and EPS buildings.  He retired in the home he and Janice built, but continued to be very active through much of his life.  Bob’s passion for flying included building a Sonex, which he flew for quite a few years. He started building another airplane, a Dakota Hawk, but could not finish due to health issues. He continued to fly until he was 85 years old.  He volunteered for the Boy Scouts, the church, Kinship, Senior Companion, Civil Air Patrol, the Lions, and anywhere else he felt people needed help. Bob was a generous and welcoming person with a positive attitude, always thinking of other people.  He was preceded in death by his sons: Dean and Ricardo, brother Lawrence and his parents.

Robert is survived by his wife Janice Kolodji; children: Allyn Kolodji (Beth), Julie Kolodji (wife of Dean), Diane Kolodji, Karen Kolodziejczyk (Jeff), and Polly Kolodji (wife of Ricardo), many special grandchildren, great- grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends .

Funeral Service will be 1:00pm – Saturday, March 21, 2026 at First Lutheran Church in Aitkin.  Pastor Doug Larson will be the officiant.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.  Military honors will be accorded by the Aitkin American Legion Lee Post #86 and Aitkin VFW Roberts-Glad Post #1727.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Aitkin.  www.srtfuneral.com

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