MILFORD – Robert S. Kolka, “Big Bob”, the Cowboy of Milford, well-known horseman, farmer, and beloved member of the Milford community, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 24, 2025, after a courageous and private battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.
Born August 25, 1956, at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, New York, Bob was fourth of six children of Joseph Walter and Vera Marie (Meehan) Kolka.
Bob grew up on Strawtown Dairy in New City, NY - a large dairy farm and creamery founded by his grandparents and run by his father and uncles. From a young age, he had a passion for hunting and fishing. His grandfather, Bob Meehan, fostered a lifelong love of racing homers, show pigeons and chickens. All starting at a young age, he and his siblings took horseback riding lessons and each focused on their own disciplines. Bob’s aspiration was “to one day ride like Phil Sheridan”. Coincidentally, they became close friends later in life and went on countless rides together!
Growing up with his brothers Jeffrey, Michael and Timothy and many cousins, Bob also developed a love for Ford Muscle cars, especially fastback Mustangs and Falcons. He and his brothers raced at Dover and Englishtown dragstrips and might have “practiced” throughout Rockland County.
He attended Clarkstown North High School and worked at the family farm until the cows were sold. He worked in construction and later started his career with Elmhurst Dairy delivering milk in and around New York City. But he could not shake the dream of one day owning and operating his own family farm.
In 1982, Bob and his then wife, Patricia, purchased Rolling Brook Farm in Milford NY. He moved upstate with two children Shannon and Joseph, and later welcomed a third, Robert in 1983. Bob took great pride in learning crop and herd management and was an active member of the local agricultural community and supporter of the county fair and 4H. He operated his dairy farm until he sold the cows in 1991.
Bob moved to Northern Virginia to run heavy equipment as his next career in the rapidly-growing residential development phase throughout the national capital region. As a skilled heavy equipment operator, he could be left with site-plans and topographic maps to excavate new roads and residential sites, or prepare final residential yards as the finish grade operator. Fortunately, he always found time to ride horses, learned how to ski, taught the kids how to water ski, partnered in raising beef cattle with Cindy Kukenberger, and made life-long friendships. He travelled back and forth on weekends, holidays, and vacations to be with his kids and extended family.
Bob had a passion for entrepreneurship, and even more so, horses. Bob returned to his farm in 2001 and opened Brass Ring Farm as a trail riding venue and horse sales. Bob’s skill for recognizing a good horse and telling a good tale served him well as he bought and sold horses, taught countless people to ride, and guided trail rides through his farm. Bob fostered a love of horses in his children and grandchildren. He formed lasting friendships with members of the horse community across the country.
Bob purchased a portable sawmill and built all the buildings and fencing on the farm from logs he harvested and milled himself. Using his own heavy equipment, he designed, created, and maintained the horseback riding trails throughout Brass Ring Farm. He constructed his very own beautiful spring fed 1.5 acre pond that he stocked with catfish, bass, and trout for family fishing.
Bob prioritized enjoying the simple pleasures in life, whether fishing with his grandchildren, trail riding on his beautiful horse, Noble, or spending time with his family and friends. Bob had the rare ability of making friends easily everywhere he went, and the special quality of turning friends into family.
Bob is survived by his children Shannon (Steve) Blumenreich of Danbury CT, Joseph Kolka of Milford, NY, Matthew (Ana) White of Port Orchard WA, and Robert (Kristen) Kolka of Stony Point NY; grandchildren Sophia, Sam, and Henry Blumenreich, Noelle and Alex Kolka, and Amalia and Cruz White; his companion of 33 years, Cindy Kukenberger of Cooperstown; two sisters, Maureen Cifuni, Colleen Richard, and brother Michael Kolka.
He was predeceased by his father, Joseph W. Kolka; mother, Vera M. Kolka; two brothers, Timothy J. Kolka, and Jeffrey C. Kolka; and stepson Christopher T. White.
Beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, 2025, family and friends are welcome to gather at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. At 1 p.m. a service will be held which all are welcome to attend with the Very Rev. Michael G. Cambi, Pastor of St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown officiating. Immediately following the service, Bob’s family will continue to receive friends at the funeral home until 4 p.m.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to
Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact
Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or
A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
