Earl E Koehler

            Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) Earl E. Koehler, 92, passed away Sunday, January 31, 2016, which was their wedding anniversary, at Oakview Heights Continuous Care and Rehab in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.  

            Lt. Col. Koehler was a WWII and Vietnam War Veteran and served during the “Cold War” 1952-1965 with the strategic air command. He was a past exalted ruler of Kissimmee, FL, Elks Lodge #1873, demitted to Mt. Carmel Elks Lodge in 1992, was a Grand Lodge ritual judge and coach for over twenty years, life member of VFW Post 4276, a member of the American Legion Post 423 since 1945, life member of the retired Officers Association, and life member of the Dandelions (order of military pilots).

            He was born on July 29, 1923, in Mt. Carmel, the son of George J. and Gertrude (Webber) Koehler.  The family later moved to the Ogden School District, where Earl attended Ogden School and in 1937 entered Mt. Carmel High School graduating in the class of 1941.

            He volunteered for military service as a Private on August 6, 1942, attending radio and radar technical school from August 1942 to March 1943 receiving the rank of Corporal. Earl entered Aviation Cadet Flight Training and graduated in Columbus, GA twin engine flight school as a 2nd LT in the Air Corps. He then was sent to Italy and flew 35 sorties in a B24 Bomber against German targets. He and the crew, due to battle damage, were forced to bail out over Yugoslavia in 1944.  After ten days with the Partisans the crew returned to the unit and completed the remaining 13 missions. Earl returned to the states and married his high school sweetheart, Hilma Elaine Kaiser, on January 31, 1945, in Hoopeston, IL at his sister’s home. After working at Paxton, IL. with the Rural Electrical Administration, Earl and Hilma returned to Mt. Carmel where he was employed at the water department from 1947 to 1952.  Earl was recalled to active duty with the Airforce where he served with the Strategic Air Command from 1953 to 1965 as an Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot, flying the B47 Stratojet 6 engine jet bomber. He served in Vietnam from November 1966 to November 1967 as flight commander “C” Flight 537 Troop Carrier Squadron at Ahn Khe and Phu Cat Airbases in Vietnam. Earl returned to the states in November of 1967 and was assigned as “Chief” Personnel Actions Division DCS personnel and retired in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 28 years of service. Earl was awarded the Distinguished Fighting Cross, the Airforce Commendation Medal, the Fighting Cross with 8 oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Service Medal, American Theater, European Theater, and other metals, including 3 outstanding medal unit awards.

                      Earl and Hilma retired to Florida for 22 years returning to Mt. Carmel in 1992 residing on South Drive.  He was inducted in the Mt. Carmel High School Hall of Fame in 2012.

                      He is survived by several nieces and nephews and neighborhood friends.

                       Earl was proceeded in death by his parents; wife, Hilma; three half-sisters, Lydia (Webber) Montgomery, Alice Webber, and Mary (Webber) Huber; one half-brother, John Webber. 

                       Family and friends would like to thank the staff of Oakview Heights Continuous Care and Rehab Center for their wonderful care of Earl.

                       Visitation for friends and family will be from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5th, 2016, in the Chapel of Short Funeral Home.

                       The funeral will be on Friday, February 5th, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Short Funeral Home, 527 North Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel with burial following next to his wife in Highland Memorial Cemetery.

            Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Wabash County Animal Shelter Buddies Mt. Carmel or Military Honor Guard. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

            Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com

            Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Earl’s family.

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