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Mike KolscH
Mike joined Cold Case Foundation with 35 years of law enforcement experience, including Supervisory and Administrative level experience, including 25 years in the investigations field. He brought a professionalism, insight and investigative prowess to the cases he worked with CCF that will be sorely missed. His passion for victim's and their families animated his efforts and inspired all of his team members. We are a better organization for having had Mike work with us. Most importantly, countless victim's, their families, and law enforcement agencies benefited from his selfless and tireless efforts in pursuit of the truth.
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Mike Kolsch, 64, passed away at his residence on October 21, 2021. He was born on August 15, 1957, in Riverhead, Long Island, to John and Gertrude Kolsch. After living in England for several years, the family moved to Virginia City, Nevada, when Mike was a teenager.
Mike had a long and decorated career in law enforcement. At the age of 16, he became a police officer cadet with Carson City, where he helped develop their crime scene photo and fingerprint identification lab. When he turned 21, he was hired as a deputy by the famous “Pistol-Packing Grandma,” the first female sheriff in Tonopah. A year later (1980), he was hired by the Churchill County Sheriff’s Department, where he started as a deputy. He moved up the ranks to a detective while also working as the deputy coroner. After being injured in the line of duty, he took a break from law enforcement and moved with his family to Elko, Nevada, in 1989 to open Sierra Jewelry and Loan. This break from law enforcement was short-lived because being a cop was his life. In 1989, Elko Sheriff’s Department hired him to create and develop their detective division and mobile crime scene lab. He remained a detective- sergeant with them until 2003. During this time, he also graduated with the 182nd session of the FBI National Academy. Mike retired from the Elko Sheriff’s Department as a lieutenant in 2008. However, he never really understood the concept of retirement and continued to work in other areas of law enforcement until his passing. After his retirement from the Elko Sheriff’s Department, Mike was the chief of police at Western Shoshone Department of Public Safety, was a contractor with the Department of Defense, and owned a successful private investigator business. Mike spent much of his career working on local and national homicide cases. During his retirement, one of his areas of focus was working on cold cases and identifying Jane and John Does. He held multi-agency partnerships and spent time assisting the DEA, FBI, and BIA with cases. He was featured multiple times on national news and television shows for his investigations and cases. Mike received various awards throughout his career for devoting his life to helping other people.
He will be remembered as a dedicated law enforcement agent and for his teasing jokes and pranks, work ethic, and generosity to those in need, as well as being an amazing grandfather. His greatest love in life was his granddaughter, Emery Rose. His world revolved around Emery. One of his favorite pastimes was taking her to car shows, where together they could show off his bright yellow 1968 Camaro, which he named Emery Rose. He is survived by Cathy Kolsch, daughter Kristin Kolsch, son Michael Kolsch, granddaughter Emery Kolsch, and sister Donna Sanna.
Mike’s life could have been a movie. He had a large personality and a larger heart. Heaven will have its hands full. We just hope it has a smoking section. Mike will be greatly missed by many.
Celebration of Life:
Friday, December 3, 2021 4 pm – 11 pm
Dalling Hall
600 Commercial Street Elko, NV 89801
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in honor of Mike Kolsch to:
Online Donations
Primary Children’s Hospital
Program: Pediatric Cancer Research Honor/Memorial Gift: Mike Kolsch http://www.primarychildrens.com/give
Check Donations
To: Primary Children’s Hospital
Memo: Ped Onc Res, Memory Mike Kolsch Mail to:
Intermountain Foundation
P.O. Box 26722
Dept. 2672223
Salt Lake City, UT 84126
For any donation inquires or acceptance, please reach out to the Kolsch family. Donations will be accepted during the Celebration of Life Ceremony.
Mike had a long and decorated career in law enforcement. At the age of 16, he became a police officer cadet with Carson City, where he helped develop their crime scene photo and fingerprint identification lab. When he turned 21, he was hired as a deputy by the famous “Pistol-Packing Grandma,” the first female sheriff in Tonopah. A year later (1980), he was hired by the Churchill County Sheriff’s Department, where he started as a deputy. He moved up the ranks to a detective while also working as the deputy coroner. After being injured in the line of duty, he took a break from law enforcement and moved with his family to Elko, Nevada, in 1989 to open Sierra Jewelry and Loan. This break from law enforcement was short-lived because being a cop was his life. In 1989, Elko Sheriff’s Department hired him to create and develop their detective division and mobile crime scene lab. He remained a detective- sergeant with them until 2003. During this time, he also graduated with the 182nd session of the FBI National Academy. Mike retired from the Elko Sheriff’s Department as a lieutenant in 2008. However, he never really understood the concept of retirement and continued to work in other areas of law enforcement until his passing. After his retirement from the Elko Sheriff’s Department, Mike was the chief of police at Western Shoshone Department of Public Safety, was a contractor with the Department of Defense, and owned a successful private investigator business. Mike spent much of his career working on local and national homicide cases. During his retirement, one of his areas of focus was working on cold cases and identifying Jane and John Does. He held multi-agency partnerships and spent time assisting the DEA, FBI, and BIA with cases. He was featured multiple times on national news and television shows for his investigations and cases. Mike received various awards throughout his career for devoting his life to helping other people.
He will be remembered as a dedicated law enforcement agent and for his teasing jokes and pranks, work ethic, and generosity to those in need, as well as being an amazing grandfather. His greatest love in life was his granddaughter, Emery Rose. His world revolved around Emery. One of his favorite pastimes was taking her to car shows, where together they could show off his bright yellow 1968 Camaro, which he named Emery Rose. He is survived by Cathy Kolsch, daughter Kristin Kolsch, son Michael Kolsch, granddaughter Emery Kolsch, and sister Donna Sanna.
Mike’s life could have been a movie. He had a large personality and a larger heart. Heaven will have its hands full. We just hope it has a smoking section. Mike will be greatly missed by many.
Celebration of Life:
Friday, December 3, 2021 4 pm – 11 pm
Dalling Hall
600 Commercial Street Elko, NV 89801
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in honor of Mike Kolsch to:
Online Donations
Primary Children’s Hospital
Program: Pediatric Cancer Research Honor/Memorial Gift: Mike Kolsch http://www.primarychildrens.com/give
Check Donations
To: Primary Children’s Hospital
Memo: Ped Onc Res, Memory Mike Kolsch Mail to:
Intermountain Foundation
P.O. Box 26722
Dept. 2672223
Salt Lake City, UT 84126
For any donation inquires or acceptance, please reach out to the Kolsch family. Donations will be accepted during the Celebration of Life Ceremony.