Lawrence Kohler

Lawrence G. Kohler, 91, of Olathe, KS passed away on May 9, 2016 following a sudden illness. He was born on September 15, 1924 in Tekamah, NE to Everett and Berneice (Rickert) Kohler. He helped operate the family farm through some of the worst drought-stricken years of the Great Depression. However, he enjoyed much of his time in the country, especially riding horses daily. Picking fruit and harvesting hay and corn was not nearly as much fun!

In 1942 he was called into service for World War II and spent nearly 3 years in the Quartermaster Corps, traveling throughout Europe with General Patton's famed Third Army. In later years he was especially fond of reminiscing about his wartime visits to Paris and Prague, and the fierce cold of the Belgian winters. In 2014 he was thrilled to make an Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. with a group of fellow WWII veterans, visiting the military monuments and historic sights accompanied by his son Daryl.

Following his discharge, he utilized his G.I. Bill benefits to attend college in Louisiana for 3 years, intending to become an industrial arts teacher. He had inherited a love of building and repairing things from his father Everett (who owned a machine shop in Tekamah when his farming days were over), but found academic life difficult. Eventually he returned to the Midwest to be near family. While working a delivery route for Manor Bread Co. in Kansas City, he met Kathryn Schmidt and they were married in 1953 in Excelsior Springs, MO. Their marriage lasted 55 years, ending with Kathryn's death in 2008. He was also preceded in death by a sister and a half-brother.

Lawrence is survived by his children, Daryl Kohler (Janet) of Olathe, and Elizabeth Stoakes (Michael) of Lee's Summit, MO; granddaughters Emily Dressler (James) and Erin Yeung (Kenny) of Olathe; 4 great-granddaughters (Olivia, Eliana, Isabella, and Lilyanna) and 2 great-grandsons (Aidan and Torin).

Lawrence worked a variety of jobs, from insurance salesman to warehouse work, always ensuring the support of his family. He enjoyed good health all his life and played baseball and went sledding with his children well into his 50s, and went hiking until he was nearly 80. He retained a lifelong love of horses and besides watching horse races, he faithfully attended the American Royal horse and livestock shows in Kansas City every autumn for many years. He had a wide range of interests and was very well read, especially in the areas of science and nature. He particularly loved birds and butterflies, and surprised his family by taking up colored pencil art after moving to Aberdeen Village in 2008. He often praised the work of others in the art class and was very happy to have his works on display, and to give his artworks as gifts. He loved reading and drawing with his great-grandchildren and encouraging their interests in art, nature, and golf!

He had a great sense of humor and always had a smile and greeting for everyone at Aberdeen. Lawrence was a generous, hard working, decent man and a loving husband, father and grandfather--truly an example of the "Greatest Generation". He was loved and will be missed by his family and all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Good Samaritan Fund of Aberdeen Village in Olathe (a Presbyterian Manors campus) or to the National Audubon Society.







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