Jeffery Wayne Kohler, age 65, passed away on Friday, August 26 th , 2022, at a Bismarck hospital surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held honoring Jeff at 10:30am on Friday, September 2 nd at Bismarck Funeral Home.
Jeff was born on December 19 th , 1956, to Edward and Rose Kohler in Harvey, North Dakota. He spent most of his childhood in Minnesota and North Dakota, moving around with his parents and siblings while his father worked for Soo Line Railroad. In 1975, Jeff’s family moved to Bismarck, North Dakota where he graduated from high school and met his future wife, Lorraine. Following high school, Jeff enlisted in the National Guard and was employed at Soo Line with his father and later Jim’s Ready Mix. He started his first company with a business partner in 1980, soon after branching off on his own as Kohler’s Home Improvement. He was one of the first builders in the region to use CAD programs to design homes in the mid-1980s and loved providing clients with their customized quality dream home. Jeff also loved hobbies and started Wheels, Wings-n-Hobbies with his son Tyler in 2003. Jeff was a past member of Abate and previous president of the Bismarck Mandan Home Builders Association. He enjoyed racing rc cars, camping, water sports, and especially loved fishing.
Jeff leaves behind his wife Lorraine (Gabel), daughter Nicole, both of Bismarck; son Tyler, Broomfield CO; granddaughter Raechel, Bismarck; mother Rose, Bismarck; brother Cliff (Heidi), Florence AZ; sister Regina, Bismarck; brother Jim (Deb), Dresser WI; and beloved pups Yoshi and Miaka. Aunt Darlene Schnellbach, Uncles Albert; and George (Shirley) Schnellbach. Sisters in law; Jan Mosset, Des Moines, IA; Irene McCoy, Memphis, MO; Mary Dirk & Dotty Simes, Bismarck. Brothers in law Jim Gabel, Bismarck, and Randy Gabel Duluth, MN.
Jeff was preceded in death by his father Edward, brothers in law Roger, Bob, and Richard Gabel; sisters in law Francis Gabel, Emmajean Rinehart, and Donna May Jannelli, all of whom he will meet again.