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FUNERAL HOME

Skunza Funeal Service

5819 Emporium Square

Columbus, Ohio

Indigo Koebel Obituary

Koebel, Indigo
Indigo Matthew Koebel, age 52, Little Falls River, New York, passed away from lung cancer on January 13, 2021, in his home. He was predeceased by his beloved partner of 24 years, Gilbert Turchin. He is survived by his and Gil's "special blessing", Jerae Dawson. Indigo is also survived by his parents, Larry and Laura Koebel Sr.; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Linda Koebel Jr.; and his brother, Doug. Indigo was a beloved partner, family member, and friend who loved life and lived it to the fullest. Indigo came to New York after high school and taught Latin, ancient Greek, and Literature at The Center School in NYC. Indigo also earned his certificate for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and taught in Inner Mongolia. He spoke German and French. With this, Indigo was able to combine his passion for travel with his passion for teaching and extend his reach to children all around the world. He not only taught his students, but he also befriended many. He was always teaching many of us-whether a foreign language or life lessons. Indigo visited every continent, lived in many countries and cross the Atlantic several times on the QEII, including it's last voyage. Memorial gifts can be made to The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya, Africa. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Obituary by Skunza Funeral Service, 5819 Emporium Square, Columbus, OH, 614-895-3200.

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Published by The Columbus Dispatch from Jan. 29 to Jan. 31, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Indigo Koebel

Sponsored by The Columbus Dispatch.

21 Entries

Linda Daller

January 19, 2022

I can´t believe how many times I´ve reached for my phone to share a thought with you. You´ll always be in my heart, I´m so very glad to have you as a dear friend love Linda

Linda Daller

August 8, 2021

There is not a day that goes by without thinking about you, wanting to reach for the phone and talk about anything
That´s what we did...miss you

Molly Gia Foresta

March 7, 2021

I feel so blessed to have had Indigo as a teacher during such an important, formative time in my life. I am now a teacher myself and I find myself stealing his lines! I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in honoring Indigo today at the memorial. I will continue to honor him by remembering to always teach as he did, with genuine passion, a sense of humor, positive energy and love.

Paul Petrie

March 7, 2021

Our business trip to London back in 2013 to start distributing him Magazine over in Europe, he was so excited!!!

Paul Petrie

March 7, 2021

I met Indigo about 12 years ago shortly after he called me to help publish his magazine that about 12 other printers, said they weren't interested. I AM SO GRATEFUL these other people declined him. I feel honored to have gotten to know such a amazing human being. Gone way, way, way too soon, but your are with Gill now & smiling down on all of us. Gone but I will NEVER forget you Indigo. Love Paul Xoxo

Kati Allen

March 7, 2021

Indigo and the Koebel family was such a powerful and positive influence on my formative years. I am forever grateful for the love, support, rigatoni, and friendship when I was in HS. Indigo was such an amazing force of nature, and I am overwhelmed by the phenomenal influence he had on so many others once he got out of our small burg of Westerville. The world is such a better place because Indigo was a part of it.

Bob Holman

March 7, 2021

Beautiful event today, Everyone. Thank you, dear Carolyn, and everyone.

I remember Indigo's 50th Birthday Banquet -- bagpipes and all!

Love, Io, Indigo!
Bob

Gianna Scorsone

March 7, 2021

I was a student at Center school when Indigo first joined. I only knew him a few years there, but his impact was far more deep, a bigger imprint.

He was one of the first people, especially in a teacher or faculty capacity that crossed the boarder in letting you into their true persona - Indigo was unapologetically him - so comfortable in his own skin you couldn’t help but be magnetized to him and as we were in our tween years, figuring out who we were, it was an amazing example to work toward. I remember looking at him and thinking how effortless it seemed, at a time where everything was effort to be cool and just be.

The other striking attribute of his DNA, was how aware of what was going on around him and how caring as a result- he didn’t just observe, he acted and responded in such a meaningful and non intrusive way, letting kids be kids and yet still guiding us to be a beautiful light. Like he.

A few years after I left Center School, my father past away. My mom came home a few days later with what were freshly baked cookies from Indigo.

I have many memories of his cheer, love of the subtle moments in life that he taught us to admire, and I am so thankful to have learned this, as I try and pass this on to others. I’m going to continue this legacy a little more intentionally now.

Matt Rogers

March 7, 2021

Coolest, sweetest , most interesting person I’ve ever met.

Ron Morris

March 7, 2021

I will always be grateful for the gifts Indigo gave me. I wish I had his gift of words to express my gratitude for having known him.

Kati Tallmadge Allen

March 5, 2021

Indigo was a treasured friend, source of comfort, and trusted confident when we were in HS. He was my Rock Lobster, and a steady source of reality in the years to come. The Koebel family will always have a place in my heart. He was such a blessing and force of phenomenal good in this world and my life is infinitely better for having known him.

Michael Soet

February 2, 2021

I met Indigo while I was a student teacher at The Center School. He seemed to be everywhere at once and always knew what was happening with everyone and everything. It felt like he maybe was secretly holding the entire place together. He hosted the first NYC party I ever went to in 1998 and I remember thinking that it was more or less what I had thought a NYC party should be like - something out of Breakfast at Tiffany's - with people from all walks of life who all had crazy stories and a sense of style. He was kind, calm, and utterly unique.

Simone Taylor

February 1, 2021

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived. Please except my sincerest condolences to you & your family for the loss of your loved one.

Wanda Sewell

February 1, 2021

I only knew Indigo for a year as a neighbor in Little Falls, NY, we also both enjoyed a coloring group at the library. He was fun to talk to and enjoyed sharing his life on those occasions that we did. I pray God comforts his family. It was a pleasure meeting him.

Simone Taylor

January 25, 2021

My sincerest condolences to your family for the loss of your loved one, Please except my deepest sympathies.

Michael A Barone

January 25, 2021

A very kind man.

Carolyn Tacey

January 25, 2021

Saying goodbye to a friend and teaching colleague of many years. Indigo Kobel (1968-2021). Indigo was a man who lived life on his own terms. He traveled to every continent. Spoke and read Mandarin, Latin, French, and German. Taught English in Inner Mongolia and Ghana. He lived in London working with pre-schoolers in day care and he traveled on the last voyage of the QE2. He was a “manny” for many years as well. He was an incredible writer keeping diaries for years and writing poetry as well as a book of “moments’ called Marigolds. He was an MC at the Nuyorican Poetry slams back in the day. A few years ago, Indigo shared with my dad & I, tickets to the La bohème it was an incredible experience for us both. I am grateful for Indigo’s friendship over the years since we meet back in 1992 when I started teaching at Center School.

Ralph

January 25, 2021

Wonderful man