Barbara Kohler

Barbara Kohler, a native of Detroit, passed away December 22nd at the Waterford Oaks Senior Center. She lived there for the last several years while dealing with decline of Dementia, Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Disease. The caretakers loved her smiling face and laughter. They fondly cared for her. She loved her Church programs, enjoyed music and even got up to dance. She dressed with her jewelry every day and she loved her dolls.  They called her Baby Blue Eyes.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Kohler who immigrated from Hungary and her mother Barbara Kohler (nee: Martin) who immigrated from Austria, her brother Frank John Kohler seven years earlier and sister-in-law June Kohler nine years ago. 

Barbara worked for decades at the U S Railroad before entering the field of Real Estate.  She and her widowed mother would move houses that were to be torn down for the expansion of freeways.  Together they developed a career of purchasing houses and fixing these homes into lovely residences and then selling them.  Her interest in real estate expanded and became a focal point of her life career. She became a Broker and opened Kohler Real Estate on the east side of Detroit. She was a trailblazer in business. Not many women started their businesses back then. She had a strong will and business ethic. 

She had just one nephew, Ralph John Kohler, and four nieces –Barbara Kohler Bain,  Pamela Smith, Paula Rowland and Denita Connor – 11 grand nieces and nephews and many great great nieces and nephews. 

Our Aunt was a collector of many things she treasured. She was an avid gardener too. She diligently worked on her flower gardens and vegetable gardens that she shared with her neighbors. She loved to cook and shared meals, soups and baked goods with neighbors, friends and family too.  Aunt Barb will be remembered fondly for her outreach