Marjorie Rennebohm Koehler

Marjorie Rennebohm Koehler, of Nashville, known as Margie, age 96, died here on January 17, 2026. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on October 1, 1929, the daughter of Edwin B. Rennebohm and Winifred Bruff Rennebohm.

Margie was predeceased by her husband, George E. Koehler; her parents; her brother, William Rennebohm, and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Rennebohm; her sister, Winifred (Winnie) Rennebohm Kotchian, and her husband, John F. Kotchian; and her sister, Ruth Rennebohm Pence, and her husband, Robert Pence.

High school sweethearts, Margie and George Koehler, son of Arthur and Ethelyn Koehler, married in 1950 in Madison. Both attended the University of Southern California, where Margie earned her B.A. in sociology and George earned his B.A. in social studies, M.A. in New Testament, and Ph.D. in religious education. Their four children, cherished friends and supporters through the years, were born in or near Los Angeles: Nikki K. Guza (now of California), Paul A. Koehler (South Carolina), Janice K. Shaw (Nashville), and Thomas G. Koehler (Franklin, Tennessee).

Margie moved with her family to Nashville in 1965. In addition to raising four children, she was involved in P.E.O. Chapter P, read newspapers to the blind, taught swimming lessons, served as a Girl Scout leader and trained minority leaders, led Great Books discussions, worked for United Methodist Communications–InfoServ and in the testing departments for Peabody College and the Nashville Public Schools, was an active member of her children’s schools’ PTAs, and helped settle and teach refugee families. Margie served as the Nashville coordinator for UNICEF’s Trick-or-Treat program for almost 30 years. She was honored by Middle Tennessee’s Council on Aging, earning its Sage Award in 2003.

Margie’s interests included travel, both domestically and abroad (including multiple trips to her beloved Britain), birdwatching, reading, music, and volunteer work. She was deeply interested in family history, researching and visiting genealogical sites and helping to write family history books. Margie kept in touch with distant family and friends through countless handwritten letters, and at home she kept the long trestle table full of delicious meals for gatherings, both large and small.

Since 1965, Margie and George were active members of Calvary United Methodist Church in Nashville, where she taught Sunday School classes, was involved in United Methodist Women, book groups, Memorial Meals, Stephen Ministries, chaired various committees, played clarinet in the ensemble group, sang in the choir, and rang handbells.

Margie had seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. These include daughter Nikki and Bob Guza’s daughters, Lauren Guza Brown (husband Casey Brown and children Rowan and Gideon) and Katie Edwards (wife Morgan Edwards and children Caleb, Clark, and Maia); son Paul and Lee (Gutterman) Koehler’s children, Jessica Koehler Garrick (husband Chris Garrick) and Colby Koehler (wife Brianda Koehler and sons Carson and Connor); and son Tommy and Beth (Gulley) Koehler’s daughters, Sarah Koehler (husband Patrick Gladstone and son Benji), Rachel Jones (husband Andrew Jones), and Alli Koehler-Masavisut (husband Pai Masavisut).

“Mimi” never missed an opportunity to celebrate a family birthday, anniversary, or graduation, and she faithfully cheered on children’s and grandchildren’s teams at sporting events through the years.

She died of natural causes, with great appreciation expressed for her thoughtful caregivers.

A service in celebration of Margie’s life will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation with the family will be held in Masters Common at Calvary at 10:00 a.m. Margie’s ashes will be scattered in the church’s columbarium and by her children at significant locations of their choosing.

Friends may wish to remember Margie by giving to spirit-inspired, people-serving, earth-friendly causes important to them.