Mr Coltman was well known from his four decades leading WF Coltman Pty Ltd, better known as Coltman Mitre 10 and work in the community, particularly on the Ballarat Clarendon College board.

He died peacefully, aged 88, on Friday and is survived by his four children Craig, Steven, Lisa and Tania, their partners, his grandchildren and great grandsons.

Son Craig Coltman said his father was a loving and supportive family man who instilled his compassion for the community and love of travel into his family.

Son Steven Coltman said thousands of people had worked for his father and Ballarat families had connected with him for a long time.

"He will be remembered as a fantastic businessman, employer, family man and friend," he said.

"You won't find many people who would speak an ill word of my father and that was an absolutely amazing credit to him. He managed to bring the best out of everyone."

Mr Coltman was born in Ballarat on September 4, 1932.

He attended Ballarat College, now Ballarat Clarendon College until Year 10 and spent his final school years as a boarder at Geelong Grammar.

He completed school in 1950 and returned to Ballarat to work in the family business.

W.F. Coltman Pty Ltd was founded in 1982 by his grandfather William F. Coltman.

The store became a Ballarat icon with its mysterious trademark WtoW, which remains a tightly held family secret.

Son Steven said many customers had tried to guess the meaning of WtoW, yet no one had got it correct.

During Mr Coltman's time, the business joined the Mitre 10 group and expanded to include branches in Ballarat, Sebastopol, Bacchus Marsh and Melton and he served on the Mitre 10 board for many years.

Sons Craig and Steven followed Mr Coltman into the business. Craig said his father always gave them the chance to experiment and try new things.

"He was never an impediment, he was always ready to embrace new ideas and be very progressive," he said.

"He didn't rely on the norms. He liked to challenge and challenge us to do the best we could do," Steven said.

Craig said the culture in the business was every employee was considered a part of the Coltman family.

"If there was a child born there would be a new washing machine turn up," he said.

"He was always looking to see what he could do for others to make their life better."

Mr Coltman married Kathleen Carole Coltman (nee Stevens), who he was introduced to at a function at the Ballarat Golf Club on March 11, 1960.

They remained married until her death in 2012 and in later years Mr Coltman found companionship with likeminded golfer and long-time friend Helen Brodie who died in late 2019.

Mr Coltman was an active sportsman, a member of the YMCA, Ballarat Vikings Basketball Club and Ballarat Yacht Club in his early years and later a member of the Beagle Walking Club.

Golf was his main passion after joining Ballarat Golf Club in 1949, becoming the club's youngest captain and he was the longest serving member when he died.

Mr Coltman was known for his contribution to the Ballarat community, but Craig said many would not be aware of the full extent because he did not promote his involvement and often made anonymous donations.

Craig said Mr Coltman's key role in the amalgamation of Ballarat College and Clarendon College typified his approach to life.

"Back then private schools were really struggling in Ballarat. Clarendon was in real risk of ceasing to exist," he said.

"Dad was able to work effectively with the two boards to ensure Clarendon didn't lose its identity in the merger and it was a true merger.

"We see effectively now what is regarded as one of the best private schools in the country, owes its existing to the work dad and others on the board put in to ensure that merger went through smoothly."

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Mr Coltman also chaired the Ballarat and Clarendon College Foundation for many years and was heavily involved in the business networks, especially the Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturing.

He supported the establishment of several Ballarat organisations including the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat Arts Foundation, Kids Foundation and Springfest Market.

The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society, Royal South Street Society, RSPCA and Salvation Army zare some of the other organisations he supported over many years.

"He would see something, see it would need to be fixed or need a donation, and he would do it," Craig said.

"If he heard people complaining to him about a problem, he would say 'what are you going to do about it?'."

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