Charles Joseph Kohler

Mass of Christian Burial for Charles Joseph Kohler will be 11 a.m., Thurs., March 3, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church with Father Paul Eichhoff offficiating. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Army will follow at Chelsea Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Crematory. A rosary will be held at the funeral home Wed. at 6 p.m. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Wed. 1-6 p.m.

Charles died Sun., Feb. 27, 2011, at St. John's Hospital, Joplin, MO, at the age of 88.

The son of Joseph Charles and Annie (Irber) Kohler was born Nov. 12, 1922, in Ft. Smith, AR. He graduated from St. Anne's Academy, Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1942. Later he went on to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps. On Feb. 15, 1947, he married Peggy Mauldin. In 1956, he went to work with American Airlines as a machinist. He retired in 1978. Charles and Peggy moved to Chelsea in 1972 from Owasso. Charles was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Family was Charles' greatest enjoyment in life. He also enjoyed taking care of his chickens and woodworking.

Charles is preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Martha Gooch and Peggy Violette; and brothers: Freddy Gene and Roy Jack.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Peggy of the home; children: Stephen Kohler and wife, Michelle of Vinita, Thomas Kohler and wife, Monica of Skiatook, Karl Kohler of Wichita, KS, Don Kohler and wife, Diana of Chelsea, Diane Strouss and husband, Tom of Neosho, MO, and Deborah Abbott and husband, Bill of Vinita; sisters: Marilyn English and husband, Jim of Catoosa, and Theresa Lovern of Rockwall, TX; 14 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.