White River Jct., VT – Henry S. Koloski, 79, a life-long resident of the Upper Valley, died on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, NH. He was born on June 3, 1943, in Hartford, VT to Henry K. and Stella (Grzeszczak) Koloski and was married to Saundra M. Picken in Quechee on September 15, 1962. Henry lived his entire life in the Upper Valley and was a well known and respected member of the community.

For more than three decades, Henry was a mainstay with the postal service in the Upper Valley, beginning his career as a letter carrier, working his way through the ranks, and ending his career serving first as Postmaster in Woodstock and later in White River Junction. He retired from the Postal Service in 2001.

While Henry's roots run deep in the Upper Valley, Henry and Saundra spent winters in places where they did not need to shovel snow after retirement. He made strong and meaningful friendships every place their winter migrations sent them, and his loss will be felt by people whose life he touched in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee.

He had a passion for building hot rods and spent at least a little time every day working in his garage. He always had a classic ready for a ride with Saundra in the navigator's seat next to him. He was active in the Carz Car Club and looked forward to cruise nights in White River, especially to the annual fall foliage cruise with club members. Henry's garage door was like a beacon to his friends in the car culture. If it was open, there was rarely a time a visitor wasn't there to admire or offer advice about his current project. He always had time to welcome a friend, pull up a chair, and visit.

He was an avid outdoorsman and loved deer hunting in the fall, rabbit hunting during the winter, and turkey hunting in the spring. He passed this love of the outdoors on to his sons and loved to recount stories of success and sometimes misadventure in the field.

He is survived by his wife, Saundra M. Koloski of White River Jct.; two sons, Jim Koloski and wife Carrie of White River Jct., and Joe Koloski and wife Tressee of Morgantown, WV; three siblings, Janet Demers of Hartford, VT, Jane Thibodeau of Plainfield, NH, and Mike Koloski of White River Jct.; one daughter-in-law, Susan Koloski of White River Jct.; five grandchildren Matt, Tyler, Sydney, Cody, and Ethan. He is also survived by numerous relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jeff Koloski; and one sister, Betty Hemenway.

A visitation will be held from 2-4PM on Monday, February 13 at Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. Memorial donations are appreciated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative and Hospice Care. Online condolences may be left at www.knightfuneralhomes.com