John Kohler

John “Jack” Kohler, age 78, died Friday, April 24, 2015 at St. Mary’s West after a long and courageous battle with dementia.

He was born in Erie, PA on June 15, 1936 the son of the late Edward J. Kohler and Madeline Amon.

Jack graduated St Joseph Grade school and Erie Technical, class of 1954.

He was the superintendent of the power plant at the Hammermill paper company for many years. Jack was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church.

Jack was an avid golfer, and loved playing cards with his lifelong buddies. He served 7,227 volunteer hours at the Department of Veterans Affairs, United States Veterans Hospital, and was himself a member of the Air Force National Guard.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death his first wife, Theresa Ross, and sisters Madeline Nathal, Dorothy Rossie, and Charlotte Kubinski.

Jack is survived by his wife, Janet Whelply Kohler, his son, Mark Kohler and his fiancé Heather, and two daughters, Kimberly Kohler and Lisa Schnupp(John) of Pittsburgh, stepson Michael Brentari of Houston, TX, stepdaughters Catherine (Keith) Studley, and Renee (Frank) Johntony of Warren, PA and a brother, William Kohler. He is further survived by his grandsons Andy, Tyler and Conner, granddaughters Heather (Trent) Johnson of North Carolina, Stephanie, and Haley Konetsky.

Friends may call at the Burton Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street on Sunday, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to a prayer service there on Monday at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1626 West 26th Street, with Msgr. Daniel E. Magraw celebrant. Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in Jack’s name to the Emmaus Soup Kitchen, 218 East 11th Street, Erie PA 16507 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 1128 State St. Ste. 301, Erie PA 16501.