George Edgar Koehler

George Edgar Koehler of Nashville, age 89, died here on July 19, 2019. He was born in Madison, WI, May 5, 1930, the son of Arthur Koehler, a wood scientist, descended from 1850s German immigrants to Wisconsin, and Ethelyn Smith Koehler, descended largely from colonial New England families from Britain. George was predeceased by his parents and older sisters, Kathryn M. Koehler and Ruth K. Backus, and by Ruth’s husband Edward J. Backus. High school sweethearts, George and Marjorie Jane Rennebohm, daughter of Edwin B. and Winifred B. Rennebohm, married in 1950 in Madison. Both attended the University of Southern California, where Margie earned her B.A. (sociology) and George his B.A. (social studies), M.A. (New Testament), and Ph.D. (religious education). Their four children, who have been cherished friends and supporters through the years, were born in Los Angeles: Nikki K. Guza (CA), Paul A. Koehler (SC), Janice K. Shaw (Nashville) and Thomas G. Koehler (Franklin, TN).

In 1959, George was ordained as an elder in the (now) California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served two congregations as Minister of Education, then the denomination’s annual conference as Associate Director of Youth and Student Work. In 1965, he was appointed to the executive staff of the church’s (then) General Board of Education, headquartered in Nashville, and in 1980, to the General Board of Discipleship’s program publishing arm, Discipleship Resources, where he was the director of English language resource development. He retired in 1986.

George was a prolific writer of church publications, then after retirement, of family history books researched over the decades with Margie – in Europe, the eastern U.S., and the Midwest. He enjoyed travel, birdwatching, photography, storytelling, and especially, his seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. These are daughter Nikki and Bob Guza’s daughters, Lauren Guza Brown (husband Casey Brown, daughter Rowan, and son Gideon), and Katie Guza Edwards (wife Morgan Edwards and sons Caleb and Clark), son Paul and Lee Gutterman Koehler’s children, Jessica Koehler and Colby Koehler (wife Brianda Mier Koehler and sons Carson and Connor), and son Tommy and Beth Gulley Koehler’s daughters, Sarah, Rachel, and Alli Koehler. “Papa” never missed an opportunity to celebrate a family birthday, anniversary, graduation, or the like.

Since 1965, George and Margie have been active members of Calvary United Methodist Church, Nashville, where from time to time he has taught adult and youth classes, sung in the choir, rung handbells, and trained Stephen Ministers. He died of natural causes, with great appreciation for his thoughtful caregivers. A service in celebration of life will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 4. Visitation begins at 1:00 pm and the memorial service begins at 2:00 pm. George’s ashes will be scattered at the church’s columbarium and by his children at significant locations of their choice. Friends may wish to remember George through giving to Spirit-inspired, people-serving, earth-friendly causes important to them.