Bertrand A. Kolles

With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved father, Bertrand Aloy Kolles for whom age was just a number that could not quell a spirit of hard work, dedication to family, and lifelong passion for health and healing—nor diminish his great sense of humor and big smile.

Age 94, of Roseville, MN, he passed away on July 22.

Bert lived a wonderful life full of grace and miracles. His greatest pleasure was the warm, close-knit family of five children he shared with his loving wife, Irene. He was intensely proud of the education and accomplishments of his children.

With a belief that a person contributes to making heaven or hell on earth by their own decisions, he felt fortunate to have been taught at age 16 to start praying for the right spouse and a well-matched vocation. He felt both prayers were answered. While working in Benson, MN, he met his partner for life, Irene Kuelbs, whom he married in December, 1956. They were married for 65 years until her death in 2021. Soon after marrying, he and Irene moved to Munich, Germany where he served in the military eye clinic from 1957-58.

Bert is deeply grateful for the tireless care and support from Irene throughout his career. Her intellect and gift for writing contributed greatly to the growth of his successful and pioneering optometry practice, which he continued into his 80s.

He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and earned his Doctor of Optometry degree in Chicago, embarking on a career that became his lifelong profession and passion. For twenty years he served as a partner in a contact lens specialty clinic in Roseville, MN before founding his own private contact lens practice in New Brighton, MN at age 50.

Bert’s reputation grew as a pioneer in both advanced contact lens fitting and in the field of orthokeratology. He became one of the few practitioners in this highly specialized field and the first orthokeratologist in Minnesota, attracting patients from around the world to achieve 20/20 vision unaided without the use of surgery. One juncture in his career required he prove that orthokeratology “worked,” because those in the professional optometric associations were unfamiliar with it. He was successful in doing so through presentation of the records of patients whom he had returned to 20/20 vision. Bert was also capable of solving especially complicated vision issues, to the joy and relief of his patients. His optometric practice grew with his clinic’s increasing national and international reputation and through the long, devoted managerial partnership with his daughter, Mary.

Bert also lectured nationally and internationally, taught courses on the field’s developments, and invented the K-rule for use in measuring the cornea. His articles were published in the first five volumes of the journal for orthokeratology, in Optometry–Journal of the American Optometric Association, and other professional journals. He was awarded a fellowship in the International Orthokeratology Society, was a member of the Minnesota Optometric Association, past president of the Metropolitan Optometric Society, and a lifetime member of the American Optometric Association. In the 1970s, he started an annual gathering for the professional development of optometrists held at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, MN, gatherings that continue to this day.

Alongside his professional career, Bert studied alternative medicine for over 60 years. In his later years, he was inspired to share his stories of healing, including the belief that one relatively unknown supplement, nattokinase, was responsible for dissolving his blot clots, for slowing the progression prostate issues, and eliminating a large skin cancer growth. In addition, he felt strongly about the effectiveness of phosphatidylserine for slowing or nearly stopping the progression of dementia. Finally, using an oxygen machine during sleep in his later years he felt strengthened his blood cells to naturally support the curing of many of his ailments. He strongly believed that prayer works and that the Memorare prayer contributed to both his healing during his later years and to the felt guidance of the Holy Spirit in his daily decisions. Even after passing, he wished to share these stories of healing should they somehow help improve the health of someone in the future.

Deeply valuing family life, he never missed a single sit-down dinner with the family over the decades (wonderfully prepared by Irene), and he and Irene took the family on highly memorable road trips across the United States. With a love for the water, warm weather, and sailing, he organized nearly annual travel weeks in Mexico creating lifelong memories for family members and spouses.

His combination of steadiness, attention to detail, great sense of humor, and the daily routine of his outstanding service to patients provided his family with a stable, consistent family life that served each of his children well in their life and careers. Becoming rather philosophical later in life, he loved sharing life lessons learned with his extended family. Bert will be deeply missed by family, relatives, and friends.

He is survived by his five children and spouses: Mary Kolles, Julie Doyle (Greg), Joseph Kolles, Brett Kolles (Sue), and Camille Kolles (Tim Roehl), and grandchildren Molly Kolles-Sowada, Ryan Doyle, Hayley James, Melissa Doyle, Michael Kolles, Rachel Painter, and Steven Kolles-Sowada. Great grandchildren are Colin, Priya, Toni, Mal, Sophia, Hunter, Bellamy, Theo, Stella, and Hayden.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sophie and Albert Kolles, his wife, Irene Marie Kolles (Kuelbs), his sister, Marlene Feddema, and by his granddaughter, Samantha Marie Kolles.

A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Visitation at 10:00 a.m., Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at the Catholic Community of St. Odilia, 3495 North Victoria St., Shoreview, MN 55126. Luncheon to follow in the church courtyard. Interment is in a mausoleum at Sunset Cemetery in St. Anthony, MN. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Carmelite Hermitage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lake Elmo, MN