Obituary for Alan R. Kohler
Alan (Al) R. Kohler, 71, of Fayetteville, PA passed away suddenly but peacefully at Chambersburg hospital on 12/24/2020 following emergency surgery. His girls were by his side, including his wife Sue (Ruggero) Kohler with whom he celebrated 43 years of marriage on December 17th and his three daughters, who he treasured far more than the toothpick he always had hidden behind an ear.
Alan was born in Chambersburg on November 12th, 1949, to the late Elaine (Cook) Kohler and
J. Richard Kohler. He graduated from Chambersburg High School class of 1967. He was a graduate of Hagerstown Area Community College before enlisting in the US Army. Alan served eight years in the Army Security Agency with pride. He graduated from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, CA as a Czech linguist, returning two years later and graduating as a Russian linguist. In between languages, Alan was stationed in Rimbach, Germany at the Eckstein Border Site, after which he returned to Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX, as an instructor at the School of Applied Cryptologic Sciences. He met Sue at Goodfellow in 1977.
After he and Sue were honorably discharged from military service, they moved to Chambersburg, where he started a career in the automobile and trucking industries. He was employed at Lynn Chevrolet in Waynesboro, Jerr Dan Corporation in Greencastle, Truck Enterprises Inc. in Hagerstown, and retired after 40 years of employment on December 31, 2019. To no one’s surprise, he then came out of retirement to work for Nacarato Truck Centers as their Mid-Atlantic Development Manager (a.k.a. MADMAN).
He had a love for antique cars, especially his ‘79 Caddy, model trains, boating, Monterey, CA, playing piano and organ, and golf. His favorite adventures included traveling to visit family, friends, and all those he met in the military. He enjoyed volunteering at Pinnacle Health in Harrisburg and with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America and their Gettysburg Region Club, the VFW Post 1599 in Chambersburg, and the American Legion Post 16 in Crisfield, MD.
In addition to his wife, Alan is survived by his daughters, Meredith Story (David) of Surprise, AZ, Alyson Randall (Evan) of San Antonio, TX, and Olivia Kohler of Harrisonburg, VA; three cherished grandchildren, Roselynn and Xavier Randall and their sister expected in February 2021; his sister, Karen Kohler Williams and brother-in-law Blair Williams of Mount Vernon, OH; his in-laws Mary Jane and Bob Ruggero of Endwell, NY, extended family and many friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alma and Eber Cook, his paternal grandparents, Mary Elizabeth and Milton Kohler, and beloved pets, Nubbin and Lucy.
He was a mentor to many, his presence was larger than life, and he would say, “Please don’t be sad that I am gone, instead be happy I was here.” He is truly missed by all.
A memorial service to celebrate Alan’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at King Street Church, 162 East King Street, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Ronald Cook will officiate. The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM until services begin at 1:00 PM and then immediately following the service. Masks will be required and CDC guidelines will be followed. The service will be livestreamed at kingstreetchurch.com/funeral and will be live beginning at 12:45 PM.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation at upmc.com/ campaigns/southcentral-pa/giving
Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2021.
Alan was born in Chambersburg on November 12th, 1949, to the late Elaine (Cook) Kohler and
J. Richard Kohler. He graduated from Chambersburg High School class of 1967. He was a graduate of Hagerstown Area Community College before enlisting in the US Army. Alan served eight years in the Army Security Agency with pride. He graduated from the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterey, CA as a Czech linguist, returning two years later and graduating as a Russian linguist. In between languages, Alan was stationed in Rimbach, Germany at the Eckstein Border Site, after which he returned to Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, TX, as an instructor at the School of Applied Cryptologic Sciences. He met Sue at Goodfellow in 1977.
After he and Sue were honorably discharged from military service, they moved to Chambersburg, where he started a career in the automobile and trucking industries. He was employed at Lynn Chevrolet in Waynesboro, Jerr Dan Corporation in Greencastle, Truck Enterprises Inc. in Hagerstown, and retired after 40 years of employment on December 31, 2019. To no one’s surprise, he then came out of retirement to work for Nacarato Truck Centers as their Mid-Atlantic Development Manager (a.k.a. MADMAN).
He had a love for antique cars, especially his ‘79 Caddy, model trains, boating, Monterey, CA, playing piano and organ, and golf. His favorite adventures included traveling to visit family, friends, and all those he met in the military. He enjoyed volunteering at Pinnacle Health in Harrisburg and with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He was a member of the Antique Automobile Club of America and their Gettysburg Region Club, the VFW Post 1599 in Chambersburg, and the American Legion Post 16 in Crisfield, MD.
In addition to his wife, Alan is survived by his daughters, Meredith Story (David) of Surprise, AZ, Alyson Randall (Evan) of San Antonio, TX, and Olivia Kohler of Harrisonburg, VA; three cherished grandchildren, Roselynn and Xavier Randall and their sister expected in February 2021; his sister, Karen Kohler Williams and brother-in-law Blair Williams of Mount Vernon, OH; his in-laws Mary Jane and Bob Ruggero of Endwell, NY, extended family and many friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alma and Eber Cook, his paternal grandparents, Mary Elizabeth and Milton Kohler, and beloved pets, Nubbin and Lucy.
He was a mentor to many, his presence was larger than life, and he would say, “Please don’t be sad that I am gone, instead be happy I was here.” He is truly missed by all.
A memorial service to celebrate Alan’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at King Street Church, 162 East King Street, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Ronald Cook will officiate. The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM until services begin at 1:00 PM and then immediately following the service. Masks will be required and CDC guidelines will be followed. The service will be livestreamed at kingstreetchurch.com/funeral and will be live beginning at 12:45 PM.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation at upmc.com/ campaigns/southcentral-pa/giving
Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.
A celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2021.