Obituary for Jacob Joseph "Jake" Kolleng
A funeral mass for Jacob “Jake” Joseph Kolleng, 95, of Pensacola who passed away Saturday, June 20, 2020, at the Pensacola Life Care Center will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020, at 12 noon at Little Flower Catholic Church in Pensacola. Internment will closely follow at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Father Pete McLaughlin will officiate.
Jake was born in Cicero, IL, on February 8, 1925, to Jacob Kolleng and Theresa Fendler. Jake enlisted in the United States Navy directly out of high school. Jake served honorably for 27 years. His stateside duty assignments included San Diego and Alameda, CA; Millington, TN; Patuxent River, MD; and Honolulu, HI. Of particular note was Jake’s international and sea service to our country. He served in multiple Pacific and Atlantic theatres during World War II, literally braving enemy fire to deliver our troops to beaches and battles essential to our Nation’s victory. He continued to serve proudly through the Vietnam War with distinguished duty on the U.S.S. Oriskany during multiple demanding deployments. Jake has truly earned his final resting place in the presence of heroes and patriots at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
After retiring from active duty, Jake continued to serve as a career civil servant in various assignments with the United States Government.
A defining aspect of Jake was his complete devotion to his God and Family. He was a devout Catholic and shared his firm beliefs with many friends and family. Jake and his family have fond memories of vacations spent in Lake Tahoe, of Sunday drives around Millington looking for their “dream home,” and things as simple as “payday” dinners out at a “fancy” restaurant.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lillian Kolleng; his son, Jacob Patrick Kolleng of Atlanta, GA; four daughters: Mary Kolleng of Oakland, CA, Eva Padrick and husband Jerry of Cocoa, FL, Therese Taylor and husband Mitch of Peachtree City, GA, Germaine Barrett of Fayetteville, GA, and many grand and great-grandchildren. In addition to flowers, memorials may be made to a military related charity of your choice.
Jake was born in Cicero, IL, on February 8, 1925, to Jacob Kolleng and Theresa Fendler. Jake enlisted in the United States Navy directly out of high school. Jake served honorably for 27 years. His stateside duty assignments included San Diego and Alameda, CA; Millington, TN; Patuxent River, MD; and Honolulu, HI. Of particular note was Jake’s international and sea service to our country. He served in multiple Pacific and Atlantic theatres during World War II, literally braving enemy fire to deliver our troops to beaches and battles essential to our Nation’s victory. He continued to serve proudly through the Vietnam War with distinguished duty on the U.S.S. Oriskany during multiple demanding deployments. Jake has truly earned his final resting place in the presence of heroes and patriots at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
After retiring from active duty, Jake continued to serve as a career civil servant in various assignments with the United States Government.
A defining aspect of Jake was his complete devotion to his God and Family. He was a devout Catholic and shared his firm beliefs with many friends and family. Jake and his family have fond memories of vacations spent in Lake Tahoe, of Sunday drives around Millington looking for their “dream home,” and things as simple as “payday” dinners out at a “fancy” restaurant.
Jake was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lillian Kolleng; his son, Jacob Patrick Kolleng of Atlanta, GA; four daughters: Mary Kolleng of Oakland, CA, Eva Padrick and husband Jerry of Cocoa, FL, Therese Taylor and husband Mitch of Peachtree City, GA, Germaine Barrett of Fayetteville, GA, and many grand and great-grandchildren. In addition to flowers, memorials may be made to a military related charity of your choice.