Gary Kolasinski

Gary Kolasinski, 53, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande and Enterprise, died Aug. 24 at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

A funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1002 "L" Ave., in La Grande. Following the service, friends are invited to join the family for a reception at the church.

Gary was born Oct. 12, 1953, four minutes before his twin brother to Ardath Snitgen and Donald Kolasinski in Alpena, Mich. He lived in Alpena, St. John's, Mich., Portland and La Grande where he spent his high school years.

He later moved to Casper, Wyo., to work as a welder in the Wyoming oil fields. Gary spent more time in Portland and La Grande, three years in Enterprise and then Baker City where he lived for the last year and a half.

In La Grande, Gary met and fell in love with Julie Gooderham. The couple had a daughter, Laura Lee Kolasinski.

Gary loved to hunt and fish. He enjoyed riding his bike, strumming his guitar, fishing, talking to his family all day long and a little gambling with his friends (pull tabs) when they went out to coffee.

He is survived by his father, Donald Kolasinski and step-mother, Mary Kolasinski of Smoot, Wyo.; his mother, Ardath Snitgen of Crystal Lake, Mich.; twin brother, Terry Lee Kolasinski of College Place, Wash.; a daughter, Laura Lee Kolasinski, 12; a niece and two great-nieces.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society in care of Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway 97834.