It is with deep sadness his family announces the sudden passing of our beloved Gerry Koehle on August 13, 2011 in Kelowna, BC after a brief but valiant fight with cancer.
Gerry was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on February 9, 1934 and moved with his family to Trail, BC where they resided until 1944, when the family moved to Nelson.
Gerry was proud of his hockey career as a goalie. He played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Native Sons, as well as playing for the Hibbing Flyers in Hibbing, Minnesota. Later in his career he played for various teams including Nelson, Trail, Spokane and Rossland ending his career with the Nelson Maple Leafs. The Nelson Maple Leafs went on to win the Savage cup with Gerry in goal and Gerry also attained the W.I.H.L most valuable goalie award.
Gerry met Jeannine Couture on a blind date in 1966 and they were married shortly thereafter. Together they built a house in Nelson where he resided until his passing. They had three daughters, Monique, Nadine and Yvette.
Gerry loved his work as a sheet metal worker and put pride and patience into everything he made. He joined his father and brother at Koehle & Son Sheet Metal and Heating, which Gerry continued to run until his retirement in 2002, putting in 45 years with the business.
Outside of work Gerry had a passion for sports and the outdoors including curling as well as golfing which he continued up until two weeks before his passing. He loved to spend time at his cabin at Queen’s Bay, floating in the water, throwing rocks with the grandchildren and playing cards with “The Wilsons”. This truly was his favorite place to be. Gerry could also be found making his way around town walking his beloved dog Bridgette, stopping for conversation and dog biscuits along the way.
Predeceased by his brother Red, sister-in-law Gene, parents Fred and Lena and a sister in infancy Ruth.
He will be forever remembered by his loving wife Jeannine, daughters Monique (Wayne), Nadine (Brian) and Yvette (Peter) together with his “little stars”, his grandchildren – Nathan and Nicholas Tonogai, Adam and Sam Ross, Kaylee and Cole Shukin and of course his little dog Bridgette. He will also be remembered by his two brothers Fritz (Dolly) and Bob (Rosina) Koehle along with multiple nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Gerry’s life will take place on Saturday September 3, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethel Christian Center – 623 Gordon Rd. Nelson, BC with reception to follow at The New Grand Hotel – 616 Vernon St. Nelson BC.
In lieu of flowers family and friends may make donations to the SPCA Nelson Branch 520C Falls St., Nelson, BC V1L 6B5 as Gerry was always an animal lover, or charity of choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.thompsonfs.ca