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Charles Bernard Koehler

1929 - 2021

BORN

1929

DIED

2021

Charles Koehler Obituary

Charles Bernard Koehler

May 20, 1929-January 10, 2021

Charles Bernard Koehler, 91, of Johnston, Iowa, formerly of Davenport, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, January 10th, 2021 in Des Moines, IA surrounded by his "team" of four daughters.

Charles was born on May 20th, 1929 to Walter Koehler and Grace (Pluckhahn) Koehler in Trenton, Missouri. Charles spent his childhood primarily in Davenport, but also lived briefly in Missouri and Hawaii. He was a proud graduate of Davenport High School in 1947. Charles attended the University of Iowa for two years before serving in the United States Marine Corp stateside in Pendleton, CA during the Korean War. After two years in the Marine Corp, Charles returned to the University of Iowa and graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1954.

Charles married Jean Bernice Ladd on May 8th, 1960 in Denver, Colorado. Jean passed away in 2013. They were married for 53 years. They raised their four daughters in Davenport where he loved watching them play softball, participating in Dad-Daughter Date nights when they were in Girl Scouts, and taking his family on memorable trips to both coasts.

Charles was employed at Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company/Mid-American Energy in Davenport as an electrical engineer. He designed many electrical substations in Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois that are still in use today. He retired in 1994 after 40 years of service.

Charles loved studying genealogy and telling the "juicy" stories of long ago ancestors that he discovered during his research. He enjoyed family history and loved hosting and attending many family reunions. He was a devoted member of First Christian Church of Davenport for 86 years. Charles never met a stranger, and usually asked enough questions to know someone's life story in 15 minutes. Charles was a history buff and was an avid reader of many literature genres, especially history and war books. Charles loved the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes, and ice cream. If you were visiting Charles, he would offer you ice cream, root beer, and a chance to read the newspaper.

Charles enjoyed weekly trips to the library, playing bridge, and going with his daughters on an annual trip to Wrigley Field to watch his beloved Cubs. He spent a lot of time with his daughters and their families dining out. His favorite meal was liver and onions and enjoying a cold Bud Light.

Most importantly, Charles was a dedicated family man. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He adored his grandchildren and loved watching their activities and taking them on many outings. His family will carry on his legacy of learning, reading, genealogy, and family connections.

Charles is proceeded in death by his wife, Jean, infant daughter, Sally, and sister, Elizabeth. Those left to honor his memory are daughters Jennifer (John Schneberger) Koehler of Ankeny, Iowa, Cathy Koehler-Wright of Bettendorf, Iowa, Mary Koehler of Alexandria, Virginia, Ruth (Jon) Richardson of Grimes, Iowa; grandchildren Jacob (Nicole) Richardson of Seattle, Washington, Laura (Jesse) Barber of North Liberty, Iowa, Emma Wright of Bettendorf, Iowa, Rachel Schneberger of Iowa City, Iowa, Caroline (Bryce) Swanson of Elk River, Minnesota, Olivia Wright of Chicago, Illinois, Lily Richardson of Grimes, Iowa; great-grandson Brady Swanson; brother, Paul Koehler of Baltimore, Maryland; nieces, Bonnie Brown and Barbara Hatch, and nephew Jaan Sturgis, as well as many extended family members.

Memorials may be sent to First Christian Church of Davenport, IA at 510 East 15th Street, Davenport, IA 52803.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

COVID-19 is real.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Quad-City Times on Jan. 15, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Charles Koehler

16 Entries

Paul Koehler

Planted Trees

Myrna Weiland

January 18, 2021

My sympathy to you, the family of Charles. He was a loved man here at McAuley. I remember he was interested in so many things and took part in many activities. We all will miss him here. May God rest his soul in His Everlasting Arms. A friend, Myrna Weiland, Apt. 156

Carol Woodward Doutriaux and Jerome Doutriaux

January 17, 2021

To all Charles´ family, we send our sincere sympathy. Charles was one of my mother´s generation whom we most enjoyed seeing and talking with at the Koehler family reunions. His deep interest in family history showed not only in the myriad of names and dates, places and events that he could relate, but also in his attentive interest in each person he spoke with. We were touched at how he remembered things about our conversation of several years back when we met again at the next reunion. His guided tour of significant sites relating to our family history was a true gift to those of us who live far away and who knew only bits of family lore about our forebears. It brought to life the community in which they had lived, the relationships and some of the challenges of the time.

Just last summer he cared enough (and with his daughters´ generous help) to come visit our mother, his older cousin Catherine, halfway across the country, bringing her a portrait of their mutual grandparents and a newspaper article about his father´s untimely death. She was able to tell him her often-repeated recollection of his father-the father taken when he was too young to hold memories-her young Uncle Walter who, visiting in the early 1920´s, used to get down on the floor to play with our mother and her siblings, tossing them over his head, to their great delight.

We are sad to learn of his passing, and thankful for his enduring example of human interest, humility, and appreciation for the bonds of family.

William R. Woodward

January 17, 2021

William R. Woodward

January 17, 2021

William R. Woodward

January 17, 2021

William R. Woodward

January 17, 2021

Fig. 1. Charles Koehler, Barbara Koehler, Jim Karch, John Koehler, sitting Marilyn Karch at Koehler reunion in Delavan, WI in June 2016.
Fig. 2. Charles greets cousin Catherine Woodward in MA. Her mom Jennie Koehler was older sister of his father Walter.
Fig. 3. Charles' father Walter grew up in this house in Menomonee Falls, WI, the youngest of seven siblings.

Susan Perry

January 16, 2021

I extend my sympathies to Charles's daughters and their families. I enjoyed knowing your dad at the German American book discussions. My first time attending, he wanted to know where in Germany my family was from. We met for a discussion today and received root beer candy in remembrance of Charles.

theresa lemen

January 16, 2021

I am so sorry for your loss of your family.

Julia Richardson

January 15, 2021

I´m a part of the extended family and though I haven´t been around him for most of his life when we were together he was a kind and loving man and always had a smile on his face. Rest In Peace Charles

Diane and Don Cooley

January 15, 2021

As first cousin of Don and close for 70 years we loved him,,,,,,,starting when he, as a Marine in training, visited us in Long Beach, Cal. Then again with family, in Santa Monica............and over the years with family reunions. He will be greatly missed.

Rev Lydia Ruiz

January 15, 2021

My condolences & prayers to your family & those he has touched. May he now Rest In Peace.

Michael & Hedy Hustedde

January 15, 2021

Our condolences to the extended Koehler family from the German American Heritage Center Book Discussion Group. Charles was a wonderful man and regular discussion attender from early in the 2000s until about three years ago when his health was failing and he could no longer easily get around. Some of our long-term members remember his leading the discussion of Dr. Eckener's Dream Machine: The Great Zeppelin and the Dawn of Air Travel back in November, 2005. Charles had an engineering background and loved the history surrounding the flying machines.
He went on to lead discussions of The Lost German Slave Girl, When I was a German/Christabel, and finally Skeletons at the Feast which he led in February of 2014 assisted by his daughter Cathy.

He loved reading - especially history and genealogically oriented texts - and being in the group. We were talking about Charles after reading the obituary and fondly remembered that almost regardless of the book genre we were reading, he'd almost always figure a way of bringing in his genealogy studies...he was quite a guy and we are saddened to read of his passing.

Steve Mathias

January 15, 2021

So sorry to hear of Charley's passing. I started working at IIG&E in the substation division in 1976. The first time I worked with Charley, it didn't take long to see that he was very intelligent and very kind. He was one of those engineers who would come out to the job site and ask how things were going and if we needed anything or had any problems. From my standpoint, he was the workhorse of engineering, cranking out job after job for years on end. He was one of those people who would leave a mark in your life, like a favorite teacher. I am so sorry for your loss, and for all of our loss of a very good man.

William R Woodward

January 15, 2021

His curiosity was contagious, especially for ancestor stories. He was appreciative of everyone, including me the son of his surviving cousin Catherine, age 102.

Grace Darlin

January 15, 2021

Lovely Mary Esther,
From the reading, your Dad lived a full and loving life dedicated to a long commitment to marriage and a loving family. I can see how greatly he was loved. My heart centered condolences to you and your family. You all now have another Angel looking over you. Om Shanti. Love you. Grace Darlin

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