Elsie Marie Havness was born in Brooklyn NY to Norwegian immigrant parents and has always been very proud of her heritage. As the youngest child with two older brothers, she learned early to hold her own, and maintained that indominable strength and self-assurance throughout her life.
Elsie has fond memories of growing up in Brooklyn, including summers spend at their bungalow in Rockaway Beach, vacations at a farm in Vermont, and canvassing the fancy clothing stores along Manhattan’s 5th Avenue with girlfriends. With a keen sense of style and a natural artistic ability, Elsie attended the Fashion Design Institute in NYC, but dropped out before graduating to marry the love of her life, John Kohler, when she was 21. Elsie supported her husband as he built a successful career, raising their 3 children and helping to build and improve their various homes, both on the East and West coasts. (As she used to say, “When I married your father, I didn’t realize I was signing myself up for 50 years of hard labor!”)
In 1959, the young family moved out to California, choosing to settle in a wonderful neighborhood in the hills behind Stanford University. Elsie got involved in politics and managed a local gift shop, and also enjoyed painting, socializing, and relaxing at the Ladera Oaks swim & tennis club. Vacations were spent camping with friends, and later at their mountain cabin, skiing in the winters, swimming & hiking in the summers.
In the early 70’s, Elsie & John moved back East briefly, then to Southern California, where their back yard was a boat dock. They would spend many weekends sailing. Elsie got a job as a travel agent, and she & John enjoyed free “promo” trips, traveling to the Caribbean, Europe, and Norway. 41 years ago, they moved to beautiful Pacific Grove, where they purchased an older home a half-block from the shoreline. Elsie and John became active in their church, St Mary’s By-the-Sea, took up golf, and relished cocktail hour on their deck overlooking the Bay. This idyllic life also included return trips to their mountain cabin, where they were involved in the Bear Valley Music Festival and the neighborhood association.
Due to Covid restrictions, there will be a family-only memorial service.
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