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CHARLES KOHLENBERGER Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for CHARLES KOHLENBERGER
Sponsored by The Orange County Register.
Carol
September 18, 2024
On this 10 year anniversary of Dad´s passing, I still think of him fondly. He was a great influence on me and our entire family. Roger said it best when describing him. He was definitely an expert in many disciplines and had many adventures, but he loved his family best. Here he is near his birthday, 11-26-1986, with several of his grandchildren. Dad we love you still....
Ned Cherry
January 7, 2019
In reading Roger Kohlenberger's Obituary, I could not agree more and could not have said it better. I was hired by bill in 1959 at age 20 to be a technician at Autonetics. I worked for him and beside him for more than 50 years. As Roger said I engaged him in avid conversation an unlimited number of times and cursed him for not agreeing with me. But in so many ways he was the finest man I ever knew and he continues to have a profound impact on my life. RIP Bill
Roger Kohlenberger
October 1, 2018
You've no doubt heard of the notion of 6 degrees of separation. The idea that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else, if not directly, then through a friend, or a friend of a friend, etc. by way of no more than 6 links. I'm inclined to believe that Dad was connected to everyone by no more than 3
.1415926 degrees of separation. It seemed everywhere we went he met someone he knew.
Bill Kohlenberger wasn't a particularly modest man...especially when it came to his fashion sense. I can recall him one day having broken a shoelace. The only ones he could find while rummaging through the old recycled Dutch Masters cigar box, in which emergency shoe supplies were kept, was a pair of bright orange ones, the origin of which I never discovered, but off he went to work that day without a second thought, his shoes now secure on his feet. Orange laces were just as functional after all.
No... he was not a modest man, but neither was he a man of hubris. He was not pompous, arrogant, or pretentious. He possessed many talents, but he was not possessed by them. He did not wear his heart on his sleeve, but if a little marinara sauce dribbled down the front of his shirt, that was OK.
I have in my possession his eyeglasses, the lenses of which were made as a correction for far-sightedness. They helped him to see what the rest of us with a more myopic perspective do. He sometimes commented that his point of focus was beyond infinity. I concluded early on that his powers of reasoning, deduction, and creativity were just shy thereof.
So who was Bill?
He was a a prankster; a juvenile delinquent; a sometimes church-goer; a builder of over-modulated amps for Leo Fender's electric guitars; a 4th-of-July pyrotechnician; a builder and flyer of newspaper kites; an indulger in chocolate chip cookies, cake, and fudge brownies (with walnuts of course); a smoker of cheap cigars; a water-spray ambusher of wayward cats that invaded his garden; a squash grower and panderer of same; a teller of bad jokes; a DJ radio announcer; a ham radio operator, a tinkerer, and an inventor.
He was also a patriot; a scoutmaster; a disciplinarian; a moulder of character; a rockhound; a camper; a backpacker; an amateur astronomer; an amateur geologist; an outdoorsman; a tourist; a desert rat; a mountain goat; a seaside salty sailor; an explorer; a listener of morse code, to classical music, train whistles, and other sounds of nature; a student, a teacher, a coach; a role model; a window washer (Space Shuttles only); an optics guru, a bender of light, minds, and rules; a luminary; a visionary; an Engineer in the broadest sense of the word; an ever curious child.
He was a man of principle, duty, and generosity.
Anyone who understood Bill, knew him to be a problem solver...and very often his working mode involved intense discussion (arguing). It was his way of getting to the truth, or more accurately to finding a workable solution. If you were willing to accept this character trait as part of the man, and engage him on those terms, there's nothing he wouldn't do to help you help yourself out of a jam; which usually included helping you recognize when you were in a jam, and enumerating what the parameters of your particular jam were.
Bill loved his friends and family.
He was a friend in time of need; a cousin; an in-law; a nephew; an uncle; a son; a brother; a grandfather; a great-grandfather; a husband; and a father...my father...Dad.
He was the most powerful influence in my life, and I am forever grateful for his patience, guidance, and love.
He was the most beautiful man I ever knew.
Roger (youngest son)
Mike Kahrs
August 13, 2018
Had a question about Troop 91, can't ask my dad any longer as he recently passed away, thought I'd see who might be around to ask. Thought of Bill. I see I missed him as well. Old guy myself now, member of BSA Troop 91 in the 60's. I worked the Salt Lake City Olympic Games as wireless mic technician. Naturally, I called Bill for help, and naturally, he was there for me.
R.I.P, Bill. You were one of the best.
Carol Rush
August 18, 2015
To Jon Innis: Thank you for your message. You can contact me through the Tehachapi phone book, our phone number is listed.
Dad and Carol, Cottonwood Lakes campout, July, 1970
Carol L. K. Rush
October 29, 2013
Grandpa K and Piper on his birthday Nov, 2007
Carol L. K. Rush
October 29, 2013
Great-Grandpa K (Bill) at granddaughter Lara's wedding 11-2009
Carol LK Rush
October 25, 2013
I have been amiss in getting an article printed for the OC Register or Fullerton Tribune. Life is busy here in Tehachapi, and it's also hard to find the words to write about our Dad. So, I've decided to just post my thoughts here, and welcome all family, friends and all who knew him to post their memories and thoughts.
Bill, our Dad, was a loving husband to Barbara his wife of 64 years, a Dad to 4 children, Grandpa to 6 grandchildren, and a Great-Grandpa to 5 great-grandchildren, with one on the way! He was raised in Orange County and lived there all his life. He was part of an old, pioneer family based out of Anaheim and Fullerton. He went to college at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo, graduating in Electronics Engineering. He worked for over 40 years in the Aerospace Industry, with Autonetics, North American Aviation, Rockwell, and finally retiring with Boeing Corp.
Bill worked on many and varied projects during his career, such as the Minuteman Missile, the Tiltmeter, Lasor and Glass applications, and the windows of the Space Shuttle. He lived a full life, and he was such a huge influence in our family that he will be sorely missed. Between the Ham Radio Club, Boy Scouts, Radio Emergency Services (RACES), his love of Geology, Astronomy and all things Scientific, he was an all-around renaissance man! Besides all that, he was dedicated to helping others, especially his children and grandchildren. Even though we formally said goodbye to him in September 2013, he will live on in our hearts. Thank you everyone, and feel free to contribute to this Guest Book for our Dad.
October 5, 2013
Bill was my manager for several years, starting in 1982, but I considered him a friend for life even though we didn't communicate following my move to Utah.
Bill was one of the most intelligent, and kind, individuals that I have ever had the pleasure and benefit of meeting. He had forgotten more technical information about optics, electronics and similar subjects than most of us will ever know.
He took a special interest in me and my career, and provided me with opportunities and guidance in so many things that I could have 5 lifetimes an never repay him.
Despite my earning many "takings to the woodshed" because of my technical shortfalls or errors, Bill never spoke a harsh word or criticized anything I (and many others) did; he guided us as I am sure he did with his Scouts. He truly was a kind-hearted person, with his technical abilities the only thing bigger than his heart.
I attribute my success today to the very careful and planned help that Bill provided me for almost a decade, and cannot begin to express my sadness upon hearing of his loss.
For those family members that do read this, let me assure you that in his "other life" that he spent at Rockwell/Boeing when he wasn't at home with you; he was "raising" another family of very appreciate young engineers at work. You, and I, were fortunate to have had the time with him that we did.
Randy Johnson
Associate Technical Fellow
Cindy Williams
October 2, 2013
Bill my friend rest in peace . Bill thought my all about the rocks and where they came from. He blessed me with six different rocks from his rock garden which I still have. Bill also helped me work on my ham stuff which I'm still trying to get my ham linece .i loved listening to his stories and was bless too haven known him . My prayers go out to his family during this hard time my god be with you all during your moorning. REST IN PEACE my dear friend.
Lisa Kohlenberger
September 28, 2013
Bill was the patriarch of our Kohlenberger clan in Southern CA. He was always interested in learning, and loved his work with Ham Radio and Boy Scouts. He had a punny sense of humor. He loved nature, hiking, and camping, and transferred that love to his children and grandchildren. He was my uncle, always a solid rock, who loved classical music. He was one of the few who appreciated the classical music I would sing. Bill had so many talents, so much knowledge and appreciation of life. His life was a life well-lived, full of integrity and service. He had been following up on our family history, and recently informally transferred this responsibility to me. I am honored. I remember, when I was young, our families getting together every Christmas and for nearly all major holidays. Bill often barbequed in his back yard for all of us, and brought vegetables from his plentiful garden to be part of the meal. His German potato salad was delicious! I am so glad I was able to spend more time with Bill in the last weeks of his life and re-strengthen our bond together. Bill, you were/are a fine man, and I am honored to have known you and had you as part of my family.
Otis McCoy
September 25, 2013
This is what I feel about Bill.
I wish I would have been able to say to you because there are so many things that I didn't have time to tell you . Thank you for teaching me what you did to help me get my extra class licensing and because of you I became a volunteer examiner. Thank you for being my friend . Thank you for being my friend when I felt like I had none . Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for not turning your back on me when I was homeless. Thank you for never looking down on me, like some people still do. Thank you for judging as a person and not prejudging me for what I am .
I will always have love for you in my heart . I know I have told you before but I wish I could told you again.
W6ZJE DE NA6XR 73'S REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND AND TEACHER.
Otis McCoy
MEL JOHNSON
September 24, 2013
I WORKED WITH BILL SINCE THE DOWNEY DAYS. BILL WAS A FOUNTAIN OF INFORMATION AND A WALKING TOOLKIT. ONE LACKED FOR NEITHER WHEN BILL WAS IN THE LAB. I REMEMBER THE EARLY DAYS OF THE "BUBBLE LEVEL" IN THE DOWNEY LAB. NEARLY EVERYDAY BILL WOULD HAVE ANOTHER NEW SOMETHING THE "BUBBLE LEVEL" HAD RECORDED. I WAS AMAZED THEN, AS I STILL AM AT RECORDINGS OF THE BUILDING GROWING LARGER AS THE MORNING SUN HEATED IT, STORMS AT SEA, THE PARKING FILLING WITH CARS AND THE ADDED WEIGHT TILTING THE BUILDING, AND MANY EARTHQUAKES.
THIS IS WHY THE INSTRUMENT BECAME KNOWN AS THE "TILT METER".
BILL AND I WERE MANAGERS IN THE INSTRUMENT GROUP AND AS TYRO MANAGER, I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON BILL FOR ADVICE WHEN I ASKED.
ONE OF THE GREAT JOYS OF MY LIFE IS THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH MANY VERY BRIGHT AND THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE FOR THIRTY-FIVE YEARS. BILL IS CERTAINLY HIGH ON MY LIST OF "GOOD GUYS".
GOODBYE BILL AND THANK YOU.
MEL JOHNSON
Marilyn McKellips
September 24, 2013
Deepest sympathy to the family. I enjoyed knowing him over the years at NAA/Rockwell. We had some interesting conversations from time to time.
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