Louise-Marie Koehler Anderson

Louise-Marie Koehler Anderson Born Louise-Marie Koehler October 3, 1921 to Karl Koehler Sr. and Elsie (Mary Margaret Magdalene) Stilke Soper, Louise entered this world in a blaze of glory and left it the same way. In between she lived every moment to its fullest. She lived the majority of her life on the family homestead in Orting, Washington. Mother to Richard Paul (Kathy) of Costa Mesa CA, Dean of Seattle, Cathy (Jim) of Iowa, Mark, Marcia of Friday Harbor, Helene (Jim) of Auburn, Lee of Sumner, and John (Susan) of Orting. Grandchildren include Acacia, Karl, Ruby, Toni Gwen, Louisa Marie, Jill, Laura, Christopher John, Kerry Lee, Nikki and Korri. Great-grandchildren are Kela, Levi James, Cassidy, Dallas, Frank, Sophia, Isabella, Vincent, Judah Robert, Haydon, Arianna, Keira, and Renee. Louise graduated from Orting High School in 1940. Oldest of three children, she is survived by her brother and sister Helene WIlliamson (Hugh) and Karl Koehler (Dorma), and many cousins. She grew up on the family farm in Orting and learned floral trade from her father, who had been a Master Gardener in Mittweida, Germany. Her grandfather, Hugo William Kohler and wife had 5 sons, 3 daughters, just like Louise-Marie. All 5 sons came to the American shores and started their lives fresh. Many accolades came during their lives. The National Geographic Society featured a full-color page of their beautiful tulip fields in 1942. It was the highlight of her father's life. He'd been here 50 years and America honored him. Other magazines also had wonderful color articles about them: The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, The Teachers Magazine, Railroad Travelogues, etc. Louise-Marie, herself gave numerous slide shows, Top of The Ocean, etc, on occasions when her father was extremely busy. She and her sister Helene belonged to the USO in Tacoma. Later, she was a member of various organizations: Puyallup Valley Gem & Mineral Society, Blue Jeans Garden Club, Town and Country Garden Club, Orting Kiwanis Club, various mushroom societies, as well as President of the Tacoma Mushroom Society. One of the highlights was being part of a worldwide mushroom conclave at Port Townsend. Louise was involved in the Pierce County Planning and Landmarks Commission. The various books she loved being part of was remembrances of Pierce County when it was young. Books by William Bonney also prominently mentioned the family. She loved the yearly tulip displays she organized for the National Bank of Washington in Tacoma. It was a private show afforded solely to the Koehler family. Louise was a gardener for the High Cedars Golf Course for over 15 years. One of her fun things to do was to be an election judge for over 20 years. When Louise was in her 70's, she learned how to use the computer. That opened her world up even bigger. Her online address book was a who's who of people around the world. Her most recent adventure was going to Seattle in October to meet and talk with former president Bill Clinton at the University of Washington Bookstore. She waited all day and was 2nd in line out of 800 people to meet him. She was interviewed on several news stations, plus also being in a video that was featured on YouTube. There will be a gathering of friends and family on December 8, 2007 at the River's Edge Assembly of God Church, 101 Corrin Ave. SW., Orting, WA from 10-2pm. Refreshments and snacks will be served. Louise will be interred with her parents Elsie and Karl Koehler, Sr. during a private family ceremony at the Orting Cemetery. Donations can be made to the Good Samaritan Hospice Organization in Puyallup, WA and also Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. For further information, you can reach a family member at 360.897.2053.