Kenneth L. Koehler

Kenneth L. Koehler, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours of Wednesday, May 22, 2024, while in rehab for back pain at Life Care Center-Westminster. Ken was born August 24, 1933 in Brush, Colorado to John J. and Marie (Weimer) Koehler, and was the youngest of 10 children. He grew up on the family farms in Brush and Fort Morgan. Ken started working alongside the rest of the family in the sugar beet fields at age 5 during the summers– thinning plants, hoeing weeds, and harvesting the sugar beets. He attended both country and town schools during his elementary years, was confirmed in 1948 at Immanuel Congregational Church in Brush, and graduated from Brush High School in 1952.

Ken attended Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Colorado State University) in Fort Collins, completed two years, and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955, attended radar countermeasure school in Fort Monmouth, NJ, and was assigned to the maintenance department at the radar park at Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas. During the evening off hours and weekends, he was the assistant manager at the El Paso Drive-In Theater in the concession stand. He always said their specialties were great chili dogs and good popcorn!

He was honorably discharged in 1957, returned to Colorado, and started his career with National Cash Register (NCR) in Denver in the Service Department. He attended training in Dayton, Ohio and over his 43 years, carried a tool kit and fixed everything from cash registers to computer hardware.

Returning to Denver after NCR school in 1960, he met a student nurse on a “blind date”, and a year later, Ken and Corinne Zabel were married August 27, 1961 in Denver, CO. Ken’s ability to “fix things” and make things “better” around the house and yard, included building furniture, storage sheds, and bookcases, as he loved working with wood. Family life was the center of his life, and summer vacations consisted of camping trips with the pink Bethany “pop-up” trailer.

Following his retirement in 2000, Ken and Corinne moved to Arvada, CO to a house with a workshop. Sitting around was not Ken’s plan, so once again, he set about “updating things” - fireplace mantles, gazebo, patio, bookcases, computer desk, glass cabinet, and building new bathroom cabinets.

Ken was proud of his German-Russian heritage, and served on the board of directors of American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR). He always enjoyed sharing his love of German food with the family, and passed down his recipes to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed writing stories of his early life as a boy, which were published in the AHSGR Journal. He was also president of Lake Arbor Optimist in 2013.

Ken and Corinne enjoyed cruising, bus trips, and seeing the many worlds’ treasures - European castles, Great Wall of China, Australian Outback, Great Barrier Reef, Hermitage, and English Pubs. Ken had a love for John Deere that resulted in a large collection of John Deere tractors and other memorabilia, which he memorialized in to what his family and guests lovingly refer to as the “John Deere bedroom”. At home, he loved his dogs, and enjoyed his walks with all of them. While reading and TV watching, his dogs were right beside him.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Elizabeth, Lydia Reidle, Esther Scheideman, Elsie Schantz, and Alma (Jo) Dodge; brothers Edward, Victor, Harold, and Benjamin. He is survived by his wife Corinne; daughter Brenda (Dave) Collison; sons Daniel (Deb) Koehler and Kenneth Koehler II; granddaughters Rachel (Matt) Koehler Giggey; Nicole (Danny) Koehler Brooks; and Emily Collison; grandsons Stephen Koehler, Braden Collison, and Brad (Sarah) Koniz; great-granddaughter Olivia Madelyn Giggey; and many nieces and nephews.

Ken will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at the V.F.W. Post 9644, 2680 W. Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80110.

In lieu of flowers and in Ken’s memory, contributions may be sent to Foothills Animal Shelter, 580 McIntyre Street, Golden, CO 80401.