Dad could fix anything with duct tape—cars, furniture, even our bad moods. He taught us that resilience mattered more than perfect tools, and that laughter was the best repair kit of all. His love and lessons hold us together still, stronger than any roll of tape ever could.

Every day, life throws us a curveball—a song, a familiar sight, or a random reminder—that brings a smile to our faces and a tear to our eyes. It's a bittersweet reminder that even though you're gone, your memory lives on.

Year 6, it is not getting easier, it is just becoming different.  What I would not give to hear you tell me off. I love ya dad, and miss you every day!

Another year goes by but your memories remain

Gone but never forgotten...your memory will always remain.

How do you measure the worth of a man's life? 
 Most people would define it as how much they traveled, or how many material items they amassed.  Perhaps it is the size of their bank account, or even fame. 
  My father came from humble beginnings and learned if you work hard, that hard work will pay off eventually.  Walking through his house you can find hundreds of items that have no actual value, unless you knew the man who owned them.Because he kept them in case somebody needed them and he could help them out. That is what gave them value.
  I cannot remember a time in my life where my dad was not around. He was there for holidays and birthdays, School events and concerts, sporting events and working on science projects. With 4 children, it seemed like an insurmountable burden, but no,  he somehow balanced it all.
     My dad was a very strict man, There were rules to be followed or there were consequences. At the time I thought it was because he didnt love me that he punished me. Though years later I  realized that it is because he loved me he punished me. 
 He taught me integrity, that a person is only as good as their word.
 Respect, He told me you always respect each person when you meet them at least a little bit. It is up to them if you will respect them more or less based on their actions. 
He taught me honesty, Many times I would get in trouble as a kid not because I did something wrong, No.  It was because I lied about it. 
There were so many lessons to learn, so many lessons about right from wrong, to find my moral compass, and to become a person worth knowing.   
Every time my siblings and I went somewhere, there were people who would know my dad:


“Hey RK, great game,” Or Hey RK, its been awhile since had seen you, that (  fill in the blank) that you fixed for me is working great. We met so many people, and it is because he touched so many lives. And although he was not worldly famous, he was known as the “fix it man”  Not only items, but lives and spirits of strangers. 

   It is me looking at my dad through the eyes of a child that made him this superior being, that could do no wrong and was larger than life.
  Through the eyes of a teen that was rebellious and callous and cruel, but he still tried to steer me in the correct direction
.  It was through the eyes of a new mother that her father proudly walked both daughter and granddaughter across the field to get her high school diploma.  He did not condemn.   No matter how mad I got at him, he had nothing but unconditional love for me, for my sisters and brother. 


Did he make mistakes? I am sure there is a couple volumes.  But it is not about the mistakes, it is learning about them.  That is what he taught me too. 
The last few years I was so very blessed to have had my dad in my life, but not as an authority figure, but as a friend. These are times that I will cherish forever. Every day or at least every other day either I would go see him and bring him dinner, or I would call him on the phone.  Many a time it was just listening to him complain… Tammy, drive in the left hand lane until you absolutely cannot. Or you need to stop spending money like you do, But sometimes, it was to tell me he was proud of me, that he was proud that I was his daughter. 


The thing about seeing my dad through the eyes of an adult is that I really understood his thoughts and his compassion, Fixing things for people for free or at the very least very little cost. Giving his last 5 dollars to someone because he said, they needed it more than him. For being a mentor to everyone, or his dry sense of humor which really was to cover up how truly compassionate and how much feeling he really had.

So to me, I think the worth of a man, My dad is priceless, He taught me that life is not about what you recieve, but what you give back. And that helping people is what makes things worth while. He said you cannot take your riches with you, but the lessons you learned from me will stick with you forever.   

So while i stand here and celebrate a life well lived of a man with integrity and tenderness. Honesty and humor, I also celebrate a man, that loved more than anyone I have ever met.  I will never forget what he taught me, and I am so fortunate that man was my daddy. What he left me was a legacy of love, humor and humility. Memories which no price tag can be places. I would not trade a single moment for all the riches in the world.   I love you ,Dad and I know  I will see you again one day, and I will always be daddy's little girl. 


I would like to say a few words about my friend R.K. i first met R.K. back in 1990 we both worked at Bonell. I remember his heavy tool belt and huge ring of keys. He always looked busy. We became good friends and remained friends throughout the years. He knew how to fix anything. He kept busy after work, working on projects, most often for other people, or sorting tools in his garage. It was hard to get him to stop long enough to eat. He helped alot of people over the years. Was good hearted. He loved his family and was proud of them. He loved his dogs. I will miss him, just talking hearing his good advice  and him joking and laughing. He was always there for me. Rest in peace R.K. I will miss you, my friend.

Reinhold Kohlert was an amazing man and impacted many people over his lifetime. Most people called him “RK” “Reino” and even “Reintoad”
My nickname for him was always Dad. But he was more than a dad – He was my friend
Growing up my dad always made sure that we had everything they needed and was a hard worker. I was lucky enough to get to follow him to work over the years and see him in action. I always tried to help him but looking back at it now - man did I slow him down. I can still remember every part of Bonell. 
Some of my favorite memories were driving my remote control police car down the halls at 2am while my dad was responding to a page or running down to the basement to get my dad a tool or part (even if I usually grabbed the wrong one). After Bonell my dad went to work for the Housing Authority. I always looked forward to spending my summers with him there – even if we just spent the day mowing or painting an apartment.
My dad loved sports such as softball, football, racquetball and basketball.  I loved going to my dad’s games and watching him. I always chased the foul balls and home runs. One of my favorite memories was at one of his softball games. He forgot his sunglasses in his truck. He had asked me to go get them but it is a very long walk to the parking lot so I hesitated so my dad made a deal with me – if he hit a home run out by his truck I would go and get them. He gets up to bat and sure enough he hits a home run near the truck. 
When I was younger my dad never missed any of my games or practice and always helped coach all of my teams. He also took the time to teach me how to play racquetball. We also took a ton of racquetball classes together at Aims.  
Over the past few days a lot of emotions and thoughts have passed through my mind – and then I realized that my dad will never be gone because he lives on in his children and even his grandchildren.


I know that no matter what I need help with he will be there in my mind and heart telling me what to do. I can hear some of it now.
•	Why are you throwing that away – It can be fixed or at least duct tapped.
•	Do you really need that? 
•	You know you can reuse that?
 I will always remember
•	To be proud of everything I do and to work hard regardless of the circumstances
•	Hamburger Helper can be gourmet meal and that everything needs mozzarella cheese.
•	You can be a dad even if you are not on a birth certificate.
•	Mistakes happen – own up to them
•	His crazy sense of humor and the songs he came up with like his “Plastic Bag” song
•	Calling him 20 times a day and probably driving the operators at Bonell crazy
•	His love for all of his dogs. 
•	Always being there to help me without  judgment

Today we are not saying goodbye. We are simply saying that we will see each other when we mosey on by each other again. 

My one and only big brother. I miss you so much. You had the heart of the size of Texas. I’m so so glad I got to see you before you passed. Still can’t believe your gone. You never ever got mad at me. ( probably coz I was the baby sister ) You always were there for me. And your other sisters. I love you so much. My heart hurts. But I know your with mom and dad.  I will so so miss you brother.   Love you so much. 

In my position of PHM at Greeley Housing Authority, I was looking for a Maintenance Supervisor.  Who did I hire, and I don't regret any of our time together, RK.  He knew about everything in maintaining the property.  What he didn't know, he figured it out.  He was constructive in easing some of the cost of maintenance expense, and was always available, even in the middle of the night, when a maintenance emergency arose.  He will go to heaven proud of what all he accomplished, and he will Rest In Peace knowing all of us that cared enough to share Memories.  I remember the day I told him my mom was begging me to find a place where she could live with me, and RK said he had to move but needed someone to take over the lease.  God works in ways we will never understand, but I applied site unseen.  When mom and I went to look at the house, it was the identical house, different address.  that my dad and her had lived in.  It was well taken care (RK was particular) and we rented the house.  He solved two problems, he was able to move on and my mother was able to move with me.

You deserve peace RK!  Yes, you will be missed, but your family needs to remember all the good times they had with you.  Memories never die and it keeps us close to the ones we lose to early.

My wife Rose and her Brother "Reinhold" rest in Peace!. But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:

Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
Who got the last word, oh, Death?
Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?

It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God!

58 With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 The Message (MSG)

Condolences to the family and close friends of Reinholdt. I remember him when his family lived in Windsor and he attended school there. 

My condolences to Reino’s family and friends. He was a classmate at Berthoud High School and I remember him as a very nice guy. My prayers are with you all during this difficult time.

I meet Reino when we were in Berthoud high school  his sister Angela and Monica became friends with me as Angela liked my brother I fell for Reino  of course we were in high school. Broke my heart when he went to college. kept in contact with Angela through the years and felt like I still knew Reino. I will always remember something he said. But that was between me and him.  RIP Reino. Love ya and one day I will see you again

I remember when I first saw RK. I was driving past his work place and saw a tall, rugged blond man walking across the parking lot. I remember hearing about him and wishing I could meet him. And then I did. The Weld County Housing Authority, where I worked, combined with the City of Greeley Housing Authority, where he worked. We worked together and we became friends. RK lived near me and he would come by my house with his dog, I think her name was Winnie. We walked our dogs together many times. I bought a basketball net for my son and realized I had neither the skills nor the strength to put it up. Carla always told me RK had magic hands, so I called him and asked for his help. He came by and installed the net in no time.  I invited him for dinner after. My husband and kids got to know him. Carla was right; RK had magic hands. He could fix anything. He put together a book shelf for me to use at work. If I needed help with fixing anything, RK was there. I did my best to pay him back. I edited his bid proposals for his work and wrote them up for final reviews.  Anything he needed in writing, I worked on, edited and worked up for submission. We talked a lot and we joked a lot. We shared the painful and we shared the good. It's been a long time since RK was at my house but when he passed away, I told my daughter who is now 30. She said, "I remember him, Mom, I remember RK." I say to him now with love, "RK, I'll see you on the other side."  RIP, Reinhold Kohlert.

OBITUARY

Reinhold "R.K." Kohlert

September 8, 1953 – November 23, 2018

Stoddard Funeral & Cremation & Sunset Memorial Gardens

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