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Kenneth Wayne Koehler Obituary
Kenneth Wayne Koehler, known affectionately as Ken to his friends and family, passed away on March 23, 2024 in Madisonville, Texas at the age of 70.
Ken was born to Edwin and Leatrice Michalk Koehler on September 27, 1953 in Hollywood, California. Ken attended high school in San Antonio, graduating from Douglas MacArthur High School. He attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a degree in Forestry as a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie class of 1975. He received his Master’s in Soil Science from Mississippi State University.
Ken began his career working for the Texas Forest Service in both Linden, Texas and College Station, Texas. He then embarked on a career focusing on the environmental aspects of business and worked for the Lower Colorado River Authority in La Grange, Texas for twenty-one years. After moving to College Station, Ken worked for Luminant in Franklin, Texas and then returned to work for Texas A&M University.
Having spent many memorable summers with his grandparents in La Grange, he chose to raise his children there. In La Grange, Ken was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Ken turned a creative outlet and his strong Christian faith into a small woodworking business, refurbishing antiques into wooden crosses. Ken had a strong affinity for the outdoors and his love for the environment and the open air was as big as Texas. His outdoor pursuits also included, playing tennis, running, hiking, canoeing and fishing.
Ken was a die-hard Texas Aggie and could always be heard giving a “Howdy”, “Gig ‘em” or thunderous “Whoop!” at the many Texas A&M sporting events he attended throughout his life.
In Ken’s own words, his guiding principle was to have “a strong faith in Christ, to live a Godly life, and to seek out his wisdom in every challenge [he] met along the way.” Ken was also a participant in the Emmaus Community.
Ken is survived by his former wife, Cindy Purser Koehler, and their three children: son Cody Koehler and his wife Michelle, son Kyle Koehler and his wife Jenny, and daughter Cassidy Koehler. His legacy extends through his beloved grandchildren Rosalie, Olivia, and River Koehler
Ken is also survived by his sister, Gayle Koehler Westmoreland and her husband Dare, brother-in-law John Krolak, Sr. and his wife Brenda, and extended family members David and Sharon Purser, along with many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his sister Janet Koehler Krolak, his parents Edwin and Leatrice Koehler, and his grandparents Gus and Emma Michalk.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the church of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations, 208 W. Pearl St., La Grange, Texas. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com .
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Kenneth, please visit our Tree Store. https://www.lagrangefunerals.com/obituaries/Kenneth-Wayne-Koehler?obId=31078994
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Tom Wood
Ken and I were classmates at St. Paul's Lutheran Church School until we both wound up at Garner. I don't recall his circumstances, but my folks moved into MacArthur Terrace in 1966, in the second half of 7th grade. Bill Cook and his sister came in at the same time. Ken was the only person who understood the trauma of going from a literal one-room school house (since first grade), where you had the same teacher for all subjects (and two grades), into the atmosphere at Garner where everyone already knew each other and there were hundreds of strangers changing classrooms throughout the day! Ken was one of the nicest, kindest guys I ever encountered, then or since... May he rest in peace!
DiAnne Kline (Hakala)
Ken was always sitting close by in homeroom or wherever we were seated in alphabetical order! He was so nice, kind'a shy but, once he got to know you, he was very funny...he had a genuine, ready laugh...and he was SMART!! I'm glad I had the pleasure of knowing him. May he rest in peace.Donny Hancock
I was very shocked and saddned to hear of Ken's passing. We were very good friends at Mac and both went to Texas A&M together. He was a Forestry Major and I was Wildlife and Fisheries so we had lots of common classes and studied often together. We would hang out a lot and attended some football games together etc. He would often travel with me back and forth from TAMU to San Antonio on weekends and we had a great time. He had a really cool Mercury Cougar that I always liked a lot. We stayed in touch for a few years but slowly, due to life and the world, drifted apart. We had not talked in a very long time.
He was a straight up guy. Very sincere and kind and was very dedicated to his job and family. A good Aggie and friend. I hope that I can answer "here" when they call his name at Aggie Muster this year as Aggie tradition dictates. It will be an honor.
The world will be a lesser place without Ken for sure. He will be missed.
Godspeed Ken.