Becker, MN
March 11, 1939 – December 13, 2021
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, at Mary of the Visitation Church in Becker to celebrate the life of Kenneth Kolbinger, 82, who died on December 13, 2021. Father Michael Kellogg will officiate. Friends may call one hour prior to service.
Ken was born in St. Cloud on March 11, 1939, to Tom and Mildred Kolbinger. After graduation from Becker High School, he attended Moler Barber College, followed by basic training and six years in the Army National Guard. Within a few years he owned several barber salons in the metro area, including at Ridgedale, Rosedale, Southdale and Brookdale Centers and the U of M. For forty years, he built the Golden Razor Barber Salons on his strong values, including hard work, integrity and fairness to his staff and customers. He was a member of Mary of the Visitation Church.
He married Marlys Nelson in 1965 and lived in Minneapolis where they raised two children, Kirk and Kerry. He was a wonderful husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his whole family. He loved boating, especially on the St. Croix, Lake Minnetonka and the Cross Lake chain, and fishing on Mille Lacs Lake and Lake Michigan. He also played golf regularly. He liked to travel all over the United States and Canada and especially enjoyed trips to Europe. Ken was the perennial class clown and was always quick and funny.
Ken and Marlys returned to their home area in 1998 when they built a home on their farm north of Becker. After retiring at 65, he stocked shelves and bagged groceries at the local Food Pride for 11 years while battling Parkinson’s Disease.
He is survived by his wife Marlys, daughter Kerry Kolbinger, son Kirk and daughter-in-law Tami Kolbinger, grandsons Cameron and Carter Kolbinger, his brother Dick Kolbinger, his sister- and brother-in-law Eileen and Phil Ramola and their family, and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Don and Gary Kolbinger and his sister Marlys Tauer.
The family suggests memorials to the Parkinson’s Foundation rather than flowers.
