April 7, 2014
Paul Koehler was born on March 2, 1959, in Detroit. He was the fifteenth child of Vincent and Virginia Koehler's seventeen children. Paul dearly loved his nine brothers and seven sisters and their families, as well as his dear in-laws, Bill and Katherine Immergluck, and their whole family.
Paul attended Gesu Elementary School in Detroit. One of his classmates, Ellen Frances Immergluck, was to one day become his wife. They became best friends in high school and started dating junior year. Captain of his high school football team, Paul attended Catholic Central High School in Detroit and graduated in 1977. Paul and Ellen married at Waldenwoods on May 19, 1979 and were about to celebrate their 35th anniversary in May. Paul was dedicated to Ellen as friend, lover, wife, and sister in the Lord, and his honesty, commitment, and love gave the marriage strength through good times and bad.
Following in his father's footsteps, Paul worked in new home construction until he founded Koehler Construction Company in the early eighties. Paul's strong natural skills and ability served him well as he provided general and carpentry contracting to many commercial and residential clients over the years. Paul was known to treat his customers, coworkers, and colleagues in the industry with deep respect and many enduring friendships developed over the years.
Paul's five children (Seth Daniel, Bree Katherine, Samuel Benjamin, Noah Gabriel, and Benjamin Thomas) were the light of his life. With sweetness and strength, he raised his children to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ above all else. He taught them to live life with gusto and to do their best at anything and everything they do. Paul loved each of his children with an unconditional love and would do anything for them, from sitting through pouring rain at their many sports games to refinishing their bathrooms and basements to babysitting his precious grandchildren. Paul was very proud of their every accomplishment, small or large, and he loved nothing better than to sit around the table playing cards or talking late into the night with his family. When Seth married Theresa Ewald and Bree married Nathan Brouwer, Paul welcomed them into the family as daughter and son. With his silly sense of humor and down to earth nature, he loved them with his whole heart.
Without fail, every time Paul spoke on the phone with his children, he would first ask, "How are my grandbabies?" Whether it was playing with them on the floor or backpacking with them in the wilderness, Paul loved every moment he had with Chelsea, Clara, Lucia and Maxwell. When Paul would enter a room, the little ones would run into his arms and he would scoop them up and give them a great big 'Papa' hug.
Paul loved being in the outdoors -- hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, climbing and caving. Through 4H, Paul and Ellen led many groups of teens on adventures and, for many years, Paul helped lead Cranbrook School's wilderness experience for high school sophomores. He felt close to God when out in nature and he loved to share being in the wilderness with others. Many of his longest and dearest friendships began while hiking in the woods.
Paul's faith was a large part of his daily life, and he loved to learn, serve, and fellowship with friends. Always willing to help, Paul watched babies in the church nursery, greeted newcomers, led life groups, and helped in youth ministry over the years.
We are heartbroken and find it difficult to imagine life without our dear, sweet husband and father. We deeply appreciate all of your support and prayers.
Paul attended Gesu Elementary School in Detroit. One of his classmates, Ellen Frances Immergluck, was to one day become his wife. They became best friends in high school and started dating junior year. Captain of his high school football team, Paul attended Catholic Central High School in Detroit and graduated in 1977. Paul and Ellen married at Waldenwoods on May 19, 1979 and were about to celebrate their 35th anniversary in May. Paul was dedicated to Ellen as friend, lover, wife, and sister in the Lord, and his honesty, commitment, and love gave the marriage strength through good times and bad.
Following in his father's footsteps, Paul worked in new home construction until he founded Koehler Construction Company in the early eighties. Paul's strong natural skills and ability served him well as he provided general and carpentry contracting to many commercial and residential clients over the years. Paul was known to treat his customers, coworkers, and colleagues in the industry with deep respect and many enduring friendships developed over the years.
Paul's five children (Seth Daniel, Bree Katherine, Samuel Benjamin, Noah Gabriel, and Benjamin Thomas) were the light of his life. With sweetness and strength, he raised his children to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ above all else. He taught them to live life with gusto and to do their best at anything and everything they do. Paul loved each of his children with an unconditional love and would do anything for them, from sitting through pouring rain at their many sports games to refinishing their bathrooms and basements to babysitting his precious grandchildren. Paul was very proud of their every accomplishment, small or large, and he loved nothing better than to sit around the table playing cards or talking late into the night with his family. When Seth married Theresa Ewald and Bree married Nathan Brouwer, Paul welcomed them into the family as daughter and son. With his silly sense of humor and down to earth nature, he loved them with his whole heart.
Without fail, every time Paul spoke on the phone with his children, he would first ask, "How are my grandbabies?" Whether it was playing with them on the floor or backpacking with them in the wilderness, Paul loved every moment he had with Chelsea, Clara, Lucia and Maxwell. When Paul would enter a room, the little ones would run into his arms and he would scoop them up and give them a great big 'Papa' hug.
Paul loved being in the outdoors -- hiking, backpacking, camping, canoeing, climbing and caving. Through 4H, Paul and Ellen led many groups of teens on adventures and, for many years, Paul helped lead Cranbrook School's wilderness experience for high school sophomores. He felt close to God when out in nature and he loved to share being in the wilderness with others. Many of his longest and dearest friendships began while hiking in the woods.
Paul's faith was a large part of his daily life, and he loved to learn, serve, and fellowship with friends. Always willing to help, Paul watched babies in the church nursery, greeted newcomers, led life groups, and helped in youth ministry over the years.
We are heartbroken and find it difficult to imagine life without our dear, sweet husband and father. We deeply appreciate all of your support and prayers.