Karl A. Kohler

Karl A. Kohler, age 79, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2015 at Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Medical Center. Karl was born in Dousman, WI, June 15, 1935, son of the late Gilbert and Marion (Nee: Bautz) Kohler and had been a Racine resident since 1964.

Karl proudly served in the United States Army as Sergeant of Paratroopers 11th Airborne Division stationed in Munich, Germany. Karl earned a BA in Engineering at Michigan State University and Masters Degree from Marquette University. On June 14, 1958 at St. John’s Catholic Church in South Milwaukee he was united in marriage to Patricia J. Cejka. Karl was employed for thirty-three years by S.C. Johnson as the Research and Development Director Worldwide, retiring in 1998. Karl holds over 63 patents and garnered multiple engineering awards for his creative and innovative thinking. He was a longtime member of St. Rita Catholic Church. Karl was a member of the S.C. Johnson “20 Year Club” and associate member of St. Vincent DePaul Society. He was an avid hunter, taking pride in his many trophies and worldwide capers. He was involved in his community, serving on the school board and coaching baseball for many years. Karl will be best remembered as a great husband, father, provider and devoted Catholic.

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of fifty-six years, Pat; his children, Anthony (Michelle) Kohler of Chandler, AZ, Karla-Ann (Emich) Ralf of Zurich, Switzerland, Clifford (Helen) Kohler of Kenosha, Roberta-Lynn (Dan) Robers of Burlington; 16 grandchildren, Jessie, Erin, Brent, Bryce, Karl, Kristin, Andrew, Nicole, Kristina, Kevin, Eric, Kimberly, Chase, Danielle, May, and Josh; 4 great-grandchildren, Mollie, Alison, Mason, and Bryan; brothers and sisters, James (Helen) Kohler of Texas, Henry (Karen) Kohler of Oak Creek, Marion (Al) Carl of Oak Creek, Elizabeth (Dennis) Maier of Oak Creek; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Loris-Ann (Tony) Greco of Franklin, Karen Lee Cejka of Ocala, FL; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 4:00 P.M. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 4339 Douglas Avenue, with Rev. Rich Young officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Tuesday at the church from 2:00 P.M. until time of Mass at 4:00 P.M. Private interment with Full Military Honors will be held at the Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Town of Dover. Memorials to St. Rita Catholic Church have been suggested.