Robert Koehler

Robert "Bob" Koehler, 97 of Washington, died Friday, January 15, 2021 at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington.

Bob was born June 25, 1923 in Washington County, Iowa to George E. and Mary (McCartney) Koehler.

Bob attended Ainsworth Schools and graduated from Ainsworth High School.  During World War II he served with the Navy in the Pacific Theater on the U.S.S. San Juan, the first ship into Tokyo Bay when the surrender was signed.

Bob and Donna Sellers were married November 12, 1949 in the Washington Methodist Church, officiating was Dr. Fred Miller.

Bob was a member of the United Methodist Church where he had served on various

committees.

He was a fifty-year member of the Masonic Bodies which includes Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, Scottish Rite; a 32nd Degree Mason; Washington County Shrine Club, of which he was a past president; and a member of Kaaba Shrine of Davenport.  He had been a member of the Washington Noon Kiwanis Club, and a past president thereof.  He was a fifty-year member of American Legion, VFW, and DAV.

Bob held a private pilot’s license for many years.

He farmed in the area until 1960, when he joined Sellers Insurance Agency as a partner.

After retirement, he and Donna enjoyed the summers working as volunteers for Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Egg Harbor, Wisconsin.  They also enjoyed traveling and being with son Brad and family.  Bob enjoyed reading, photography, music, watching sports (especially the Iowa Hawkeyes), and, having been born and raised on a farm, working the soil – he definitely had a “green thumb.”

Bob was a very caring son, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Donna, of Washington; son, Brad (Mary); granddaughter Shannon (Chris) Clouse; great-grandson, Owen Clouse, all of Chaska, Minnesota; grandson, Patrick, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and two nieces and three nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, George, Carl, Walter, and Marshall.

Private graveside services have been set for 1:00PM, Thursday, January 21, 2021 at the Elm Grove Cemetery with Military and Masonic honors. The service will be live-streamed on the Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home page and also be able to be viewed later at Bob’s obituary on the funeral home website or the funeral home Facebook page. Open visitation will be from Noon till 6:00PM Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Washington United Methodist Church, United Presbyterian Home, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or Birch Creek Music Performance Center, Egg Harbor, WI.