Harry "Bud" Kohl

A Good and Faithful Servant of the Lord has left this world for the home he longed for. Harry (Bud) Kohl died peacefully July 8, 2015, after a long series of health problems at the age of 84. He was born in Appleton, WI to Harrison and Leone A. Kees Kohl. He moved to Idaho and then with mother and sister, Chris, to Spokane, WA where he graduated from Gonzaga High School. After several years in the Air Force stationed in France Bud returned to Spokane where he met his future wife, Virginia. Bud and Ginny were married at St. Joseph in Seattle and celebrated 61 years of loving, adventuresome marriage this past May.

Bud loved God and his faith; and took great joy in his family, friends, coworkers and community and served them all with enthusiasm. He served, at different times, as coordinator of Yakima Cursillo Movement, Serra Club, and the Yakima Council of the Blind. Over the years he taught Christian Doctrine at St. Genevieve Parish, L.A., CA; St. Pius, Mountlake Terrace, WA. He sang in the choir at St. Paul Cathedral and took great joy in being able to bring the Eucharist to “shut-ins” unable to attend Mass.

He enjoyed outdoor sports, including fishing, camping, golf, skiing and walking. He loved to travel and enjoy new experiences. He had a passion for music and would sing a song, accompanied on his guitar, at the drop of a note. In 2007 he formed a music group, “Now & Then,” playing and singing with friends for respite care, rehabilitation facilities and assisted living homes. Bud also sang with the Yakima Barber Shoppers, led his share of Cub Scouts troops and bowled a good game with his ‘bowling for the blind’ group.

Harry’s working career included executive positions with Avtech, Seattle, Boeing, Seattle, L.A., and New Jersey, Decoto Mfg. and Dowty/Decoto, Yakima; Westinghouse, Hanford, and the Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. and after retirement, DB Systems, Seattle.

He felt his greatest accomplishment was to have a family who loved one another and still liked to come home. He leaves behind his wife, Virginia and six children: John (Mary) Kohl, Jane (Eric) Kohl-Jones, Hugh (Nina) Kohl, Joseph (Elizabeth) Kohl, Mary Kohl and Anne Kohl; five grandchildren, Colleen (Andreas) Oswald, Erin Mulligan, Cecilia Kohl, Garret Kohl, Jaden Kohl; step-grandchildren, Samantha Wesley and Zander, Jennifer Peterson, Suzanne Morales; and three great grandchildren, Zoe Sircan, Leam Mulligan and Annaliese Oswald.

Rest in peace, Bud. We love you very much.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Priest Retirement or Seminarian Education Fund for the Diocese of Yakima, or the Yakima Valley Council of the Blind, c/o of Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home.

A vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at St. Paul Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 16, 2015 at St. Paul Cathedral. Inurnment will be held at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. To share a memory of Harry visit www.lepfuneralhome.com.