Arnold A. KOEHLER

Arnold A.

"Mike" Koehler

MT. PULASKI - Arnold A. "Mike" Koehler, 89, of Mt. Pulaski died at 11:20 A.M. Wednesday April 25, 2012.

Mike was born on November 13, 1922 in Lake Fork, IL, son of William and Bessie Sherwood Koehler. He married Berniece A. Torbeck on April 15, 1948 in Mt. Pulaski, IL. She preceded him in death on February 19, 2008.

Mike is survived by two children: Judith Ann (Michael) Coleman of Decatur and Michael (Donna) Koehler of Mt. Pulaski, two brothers, Dave (Bunny) Koehler of Morton, IL and William G. "Pudge" Koehler of Lincoln, IL, one sister Betty Johnson of Illiopolis, IL, four grandchildren, Joseph (Barbie) Coleman of Decatur, Jacob Coleman of Decatur, and Timothy and Sydney Koehler of Mt. Pulaski. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and four sisters.

Mike was a U.S. Army veteran who was a prisoner of war during WWII, he became a prisoner of war during the Battle of The Bulge on December 19, 1944 and stayed one until April 25, 1945; Mike had received the Victory Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon, Three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, and the Overseas Bar. He was also a member of Mt. Pulaski American Legion Post#447 and Mt. Pulaski VFW Post #777. Mike was a bus driver for Mt. Pulaski Township High School for 26 years where he really enjoyed all the children he had on his routes and was employed by the Mt. Pulaski Lumber Yard for 35 years.

Services for Mike will be Monday, April 30, 2012 at 11 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Pulaski. Visitation will be Sunday, April 29, 2012 from two until four at Fricke Calvert Schrader Funeral Home in Mt. Pulaski. Memorials may be made to Mt. Pulaski VFW Post#777, Mt. Pulaski American Legion Post #447, or Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Pulaski. Burial will be at Mt. Pulaski Cemetery where full military rites will be accorded.