NEENAH — In their native Bosnia, members of the Kolar family didn't celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

There was little reason to give thanks in the war-torn country, which the family fled in 2001.

But that's all changed for parents Dzemail and Dzenita Kolar and their two children, Dzenan and Irma.

They are the new and proud owners of a Habitat for Humanity home at 213 E. Cecil St. They were handed the keys to the bright, functional residence last week during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The fact that the family's dream came true shortly before Thanksgiving Day was not lost on Dzemail (pronounced Ja-mile) Kolar.

"It's a big gift," he said.

Dzenan, a seventh-grade student at Shattuck Middle School, was thrilled to move into the new home.

"We're very thankful," he said.

The Kolar home-build was sponsored by the J.J. Keller Foundation. Construction was completed by employee volunteers from J.J. Keller and Associates.

"They continue to amaze Habitat for Humanity," John Weyenberg, executive director of the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, said of J.J. Keller. "We're so fortunate to have them as part of the community."

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Kolar family expressed its gratitude to the many volunteers and well-wishers who made them homeowners.

The family's path to the Cecil Street home was forged by a visit to Neenah last year. At the time, the Kolars were living in Idaho.

Eileen Daly, family services manager for Habitat for Humanity, met Dzemail in June of 2008 when the organization was working on another Habitat home for a Bosnian family. Dzemail was convinced that Neenah was a great place for his family after that trip, and the Kolar family moved here and began working with Habitat to become homeowners.

The family lived in a Neenah apartment, but it presented some problems. Police responded to the complex on domestic abuse reports, there were maintenance issues such as ice building up on the insides of the windows, and the landlord was not responsive when there was no heat.

After the Kolars were approved for a Habitat home, family members were required to complete 500 hours of sweat equity as part of the partnership. Dzenita, who is employed at Jack's Maintenance, worked on her home from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., left to pick up her the kids from school and headed to work on the second shift. Dzemail works at Fox Valley Heat Treat in Oshkosh.

The family is responsible for the mortgage and property taxes. And that's fine with the Kolars, who are grateful to live in a country where freedom is cherished, not squashed.

"I'm just happy we have a home here," said Dzenan.

The Kolars are benefiting from the close-knit Bosnian community in Neenah and support from their friends, some of whom helped to build the home. Theirs is the ninth home the Habitat affiliate has built for a Bosnian family.

"It's really an honor to work with the families and hear their stories (about fleeing Bosnia)," said Daly.

Nasem Cohodar is among the Bosnians who proudly call Neenah home.

"This is something special for us," said Nasem Cohodar, whose family moved to Neenah in 2003.

Cohodar, who works in the city of Neenah's sanitation department, was on hand last week at the dedication ceremony for the Kolar family.

He is extremely thankful to Neenah and the surrounding area for the opportunities his family has gotten over the years.

"Neenah is the best city," Cohodar said.