Manfred Kolbe, holder of the Gold City Plaque and honorary citizen of Wolfsburg, has died at the age of 90. Family, work and politics defined his work. As a role model for voluntary commitment and great dedication to the community of Wolfsburg, Manfred Kolbe helped shape the cityscape in key areas. During his 38 years on the city council, including almost a decade as mayor, he showed outstanding commitment to the interests of the city of Wolfsburg and its citizens.

"It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Manfred Kolbe, who passed away on November 14. He earned great recognition on the political stage during his active time as a councillor and mayor. With his modest manner and his voluntary commitment, he left a lasting mark on our urban society. We will honor Manfred Kolbe's memory and our thoughts are with his family," said Lord Mayor Dennis Weilmann.

Manfred Kolbe was born in 1934 in Breslau (Silesia), which was still a Catholic province of Prussia at the time. He was a reliable teacher and principal at the Catholic Eichendorff School in Wolfsburg and was a member of the CDU for more than 55 years. Manfred Kolbe came to Wolfsburg in 1956 and was an honorary councillor for 38 years, including ten years as mayor.

His high level of civic engagement was also demonstrated by the fact that he headed up the Senior Citizens' Ring from 1998 to 2013, the Citizens' Foundation until 2006 and other voluntary roles. In 2006, he was honored with the town plaque in gold. The Federal Republic of Germany awarded him the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class in 2010 and the city of Wolfsburg made him an honorary citizen in November 2007.