Robert L. Koehler

Always a hard worker, Bob started bagging and carrying groceries at age 12, and continued part time until joining the Air Force in 1966. During his 10 ½ years in the military, Bob served in Udon, Thailand supporting the Vietnam War, leading a team of specialist performing calibration of F4D aircraft for special bombing missions and was trained on laser guidance systems. In these service years, Bob and his family were stationed in FL, Alaska, and AZ before returning to Omaha.

Three children survive Bob from his first marriage: Kristine Graham of AL, Robert M. Koehler (Viktoria) of Kansas, and Deidre Wade (Mike) of AL, and five grandchildren. Besides his parents, Bob was predeceased by his oldest brother Ernest James Koehler, and is survived by brother John Koehler (Pat) of Colorado.

Bob’s military electronics training prepared him for a second career in the computer industry, starting with Control Data Corp., Omaha, 1976. Attending college at night, Bob completed his bachelors degree from U of N – Omaha in 1981.

Bob’s career expanded to Customer Quality Engineering working for two companies in Colorado before moving to Oklahoma City with Seagate Technology. For his work, Bob traveled extensively in the Far East, Europe, and Ireland.

Bob acquired a masters degree from Southern Nazarene University, OKC. In 1996, Bob recommitted his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized at Henderson Hills Baptist Church, Edmond, OK.

A 2001 job transfer brought Bob to Houston, where he became Director of Customer Quality supporting the HP account. Bob retired in May, 2012.

Meeting through work, Bob married Nancy (Stephens) in November, 1981. Bob enjoyed golf and loved to bake Christmas cookies. Bob and Nancy traveled, explored, went antiquing, pampered their pets, and in recent years particularly loved shelling on Sanibel Island, FL. Bob was a member of The Woodlands United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge Men’s Bible Study Fellowship, and a disabled veteran.

Bob was devoted to and beloved by his wife, Nancy of 38 years, by his family and many friends. In December, 2013, Bob was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, fought a courageous battle, and passed from it on July 21, 2020.