Obituary: Eleanor Marie “Ellie” Kolar

Aug 18, 2026

Eleanor Marie “Ellie” Kolar, of Fort Myers, passed

away August 4, 2026, at age 92. Born December 31, 1933,

in Batavia, Illinois, she and her husband, Tom, were married

nearly 74 years.

In 1959, Ellie and Tom traveled down the Mississippi

River in their cabin cruiser to become among Cape Coral’s

first settlers. Tom began at Gulf American Land Corporation

as a security guard and rose to Vice President of Marketing

and Promotions. Ellie helped open a bait-and-tackle shop

while raising their children, including their son, the first boy

born in Cape Coral. She was a devoted homemaker and Girl

Scout leader.

In 1969 the couple realized their dream of owning the Eventide Motel on Fort Myers

Beach. They later purchased and operated the Lighthouse Island Resort before selling it

to their son, Tom, and his wife, Melinda. Ellie and Tom enjoyed boating, bowling, the

Moose Club, the yacht club, and extensive world travel.

Their Fort Myers Beach home was destroyed by Hurricane Ian; they later lived at

Cypress Cove until Tom’s passing in March 2026.

Ellie was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas James Kolar; parents Clarence

and Esther Roessler; sister Carol Nelson; brother Kelly Roessler; and granddaughter

Paris Kolar. She is survived by her children Beverly (Steve) Chesnut, Sandy

Stilwell Youngquist (Tim), and Tom (Melinda) Kolar; eight grandchildren; and fifteen

great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial

Gardens, 1589 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

Eleanor Marie “Ellie” Kolar, of Fort Myers, passed

away August 4, 2026, at age 92. Born December 31, 1933,

in Batavia, Illinois, she and her husband, Tom, were married

nearly 74 years.

In 1959, Ellie and Tom traveled down the Mississippi

River in their cabin cruiser to become among Cape Coral’s

first settlers. Tom began at Gulf American Land Corporation

as a security guard and rose to Vice President of Marketing

and Promotions. Ellie helped open a bait-and-tackle shop

while raising their children, including their son, the first boy

born in Cape Coral. She was a devoted homemaker and Girl

Scout leader.

In 1969 the couple realized their dream of owning the Eventide Motel on Fort Myers

Beach. They later purchased and operated the Lighthouse Island Resort before selling it

to their son, Tom, and his wife, Melinda. Ellie and Tom enjoyed boating, bowling, the

Moose Club, the yacht club, and extensive world travel.

Their Fort Myers Beach home was destroyed by Hurricane Ian; they later lived at

Cypress Cove until Tom’s passing in March 2026.

Ellie was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas James Kolar; parents Clarence

and Esther Roessler; sister Carol Nelson; brother Kelly Roessler; and granddaughter

Paris Kolar. She is survived by her children Beverly (Steve) Chesnut, Sandy

Stilwell Youngquist (Tim), and Tom (Melinda) Kolar; eight grandchildren; and fifteen

great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial

Gardens, 1589 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907.