Eldie Koehler

Eldie Lee Koehler, 85, of the Birch community, passed away January 4, 2018 in Bryan, Texas. Funeral services are set for 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Lyons, with Pastor Darrin Holub officiating. Burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Deanville, Texas. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, January 8, 2018 at Strickland Funeral Home in Caldwell, Texas.

Eldie was born on September 16, 1932 in Birch, Texas to Ben and Betty (Jahns) Koehler. He was baptized and confirmed at the Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church in Birch, Texas and he attended the Birch School through the eighth grade.

Eldie was a proud veteran and served in the U. S. Army from 1954 to 1956 and was stationed in Korea for 18 months. After his time in the service he met Theresa Kristof on July 4, 1957 at Deanville Hall. They were married on May 27, 1961 in Cameron, Texas and had four children; Susie, Nita, Lisa and Kurt.

He was employed at the International Shoe Company in Bryan for 25 years. Eldie was a great domino player and taught all his grandchildren how to play. There were many games played on his kitchen table over the years. He enjoyed tending to his large garden, spending the summer days fishing and made the best homemade sausage around. He was well known by his family and friends as a great storyteller and was known as quite the comedian. Eldie was very proud of his German heritage and enjoyed talking German with others.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Milton & Lucille Koehler and sister and brother-in-law, Esther and Alton Poehl.

He is survived by his wife, Theresa Kristof Koehler; daughters and sons-in-law, Susie and Gene Chmelar of Caldwell, Nita and Jack Stifflemire of Caldwell, Lisa and Michael Light of Carrollton; son, Kurt Koehler and fiancé Dena Janish of Somerville; grandchildren, Logan and wife, Jennifer Davis of New Braunfels, Tammi and husband, Brad Skrhak of Caldwell, Callie and husband, Bo Jones of Rockdale, Leighton Light of Carrollton, Carson Janish of Somerville; 4 great-grandchildren, Kyler Davis, Quindalyn Davis, Bode Jones and Casen Skrhak, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Logan Davis, Leighton Light, Brad Skrhak, Dennis Engelmann, Darrell Poehl and Grant Faust.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Gene Chmelar, Jack Stifflemire, Michael Light and Roy Havemann.

Remembrances are gratefully accepted at Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803, or the Evangelical United Church of Christ General Fund, PO Box 440, Lyons, Texas 77863.

To send a flower arrangement to the family of Eldie Lee Koehler , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.