Edward M. Kolek passed away December 31, 2014 in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

Born in Dubois, PA on April 25, 1922 he was the son of Frank and Mary (Margevich) Kolek. Ed served in the US Army Air Corp from 1943 to 1947. He was a flight Commander of a B-24, flying 47 missions during WW II earning EAME with eight battle stars, the WW II Victory medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters. Ed is a former Liaison Officer for the Air Force Academy and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, AFR and was presented the French Legion of Honor Award in 2013. He worked for Guterl Steel for 33 years where he was the Manager of Labor Relations retiring in 1983 and was Past President of the American Steel Workers Local 2857.  Ed was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Lockport where he was Distinguished Past President, Past Distinguished Lt. Governor w/Honors, 1982-83, District Governor 1992-93 and served as Executive Chairman on several of the Kiwanis Committees local, District, State and International being awarded several Kiwanis awards.  Active with Boy Scouts of America which he served as a Pack and Troop Committeeman and has served as a member of the Executive Board member for the Lewiston Trail Council and was awarded the highest award in Scouting, the Silver Beaver Award in 1983.  He also was very active and Past President of the Lockport Chapter American Red Cross, B. Leo Dolan Post 410.

Ed was the loving husband of the late M. Christine (Bailey) Kolek who passed away in 2005.Ed devoted father to Edward M. Kolek, Jr of Sarasota, FL, Patricia (Ben) Heaps of Ottawa, Canada, Anita Valerie Kolek Harrow and her husband Colonel  Jeffrey Harrow, MD PHD of Belgium, and Lorretta Kolek of Lockport; loving  grandfather of Michael (Becky) Kolek, Willow Paris, Michele (Brian) Schenk, and Eric (Tara) Kolek; great grandfather of eleven; brother of Mary (Eugene) Burns, Ruth (Daniel) Gritzmacher and the late Floyd, Frank, Donald, James Kolek, and Lillian Butz; also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call Friday January 9, 2015 in Prudden and Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St. Lockport, NY from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 10, 2015 in Immaculate Conception Church, Ransomville ,NY at 10 AM. Interment will be in North Ridge Cemetery. Memorials to the the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Buffalo, would be appreciated by the family.

Online condolences at www.pruddenandkandt.com.