BUTLER: The Clear Fork Valley is known for its passionate sports fans.  Few of those fans, however, had the ability to communicate in the written word like Cole Kolikohn.  A four-season sports fan, Cole followed the Colts and Lady Colts through every season, every sport, every game.  The upcoming sports season for the Valley has lost its voice as Cole E. Kolikohn passed away Tuesday afternoon November 3, in Mansfield MedCentral Hospital.  He was 54.

          Cole was born in Mansfield to Alex “Coke” and Marilyn (Sutter) Kolikohn and graduated from Clear Fork High School in 1973.  As a young boy Cole was passionate about all sports.  While in high school, he was MVP of Clear Fork’s varsity golf team as a junior and senior.  As a young man he would find time just about everyday to play basketball, but his favorite sport was baseball.  He enjoyed following and rooting for the Cleveland Indians. 

          Blending his ability to write with his love for sports Cole expressed his views and covered numerous sporting events in local publications. From 1979 to 1987 Cole printed CK’s Buckeye Report.  Focusing on college football predictions and rankings.  For ten years he was the voice of Clear Fork sports, writing for The Bellville Star. Cole always supported the Valley, being present at most sporting events.  He was proud of spearheading the Clear Fork Valley Athletic Hall Of Fame. 

          Although sports were a focus within Cole’s life many also knew Cole through his families Taffy business: Kolikohn’s Taffy.

          In 1919 Cole’s grandfather began making homemade taffy, selling mostly at state fairs.   For most of his life Cole helped from May though October at numerous state fairs including Milwaukee, Kansas, Texas and numerous others.  Cole always worked the Ohio State Fair selling taffy, and in the early 1990’s he enjoyed selling with his wife and twin daughters.

          A master storyteller, Cole could captivate any audience.  He loved cooking, specifically smoked foods, often experimenting with homemade recipes making the perfect barbeque sauce.   

He is survived by his loving wife Jana (Miller) Kolikohn of Butler; twin daughters Lea Perna of Butler and Sara Perna of Perrysville; his grandson Noah Finley; brother Danny Kolikohn of Perrysville; mother and father-in-law Esther and Bob Bates of Clearwater, Florida, along with numerous friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law Richard Miller.

The Kolikohn Family will receive friends Friday, November 6, 2009 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Bellville Snyder Funeral Home where a celebration service will follow at 7 p.m.  Pastor Ken Kinley will officiate.

Memorial contributions to the Cole Kolikohn Memorial Fund may be made at the funeral home.

For those unable to attend services, online condolences to the family may be expressed by visiting:http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com