Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 AM at the chapel. Burial services will follow in the Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, MO. Family suggests contributions to the Orent Cemetery Association or the Bayard No. 179 Order of the Eastern Star Lodge, Harrisonville, MO and may be left in care of funeral home.
Donald was born October 23, 1929, the youngest child of John Harold Kohler, Sr. and Dora Isabelle (Beckerdite) Kohler. On July 23, 1950, he was united in marriage to Joan Virginia Nelson in Bentonville, Arkansas. They shared 60 years together before her death on May 30, 2011. Mr. Kohler was a farmer first and foremost. He also was employed early in his career at Ford Motor Co. and Bendix Corp. before going into the home construction business with Robert Hon, and later with Jack Cotton. He left the construction business in 1974 to pursue farming full time, raising hogs and cattle while continuing farming his crops on his farms located east of Harrisonville. An injury to his back forced him to give up the hog operation in 1977 so he turned all his efforts to farming his crops each year, which continued until his passing.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Harrisonville. He was an active member of the Harrisonville Optimist Club from 1961 until the club dissolved, having served as President, Vice President and Treasurer and receiving many awards for his service. One such award was received in 2011 recognizing his 50 years of continued active service to the club and the community of Harrisonville. He was a member of the Cass County Democrat Club and received the honor of Cass County Democrat of the Year in 2010. He was a member of Cass Lodge #147, AF & AM, Harrisonville for 55 years, a member and Past Patron of Bayard Chapter #179, Order of the Eastern Star for 49 years, and an active member in the Cass County Shrine Club at the time of his death. In 2013, he along with his son, Douglas, and grandson, Patrick, joined the Spirit of 76 Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Harrisonville. It was an event that he was extremely proud of.
He and Joan spent their retirement years traveling about the country in their motorhome, hosting the best family vacations at the lake, and camping, traveling, and playing a wicked game of pitch with 5 other couples who were their lifelong friends. He was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt, making may trips to Colorado with Douglas to hunt elk. He also was a huge sports enthusiast. He played college football at MU in 1948 and 1949 so rooting for the Tigers was a must. Family was always important to him and he spent much of his later years visiting and keeping in touch with those he loved the most.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; his parents; brothers: John Harold Jr., Guy, Neil; and sister, Hazel Clegg. He is survived by two daughters: Deborah Mills and Deadra (Gene) Clay of Harrisonville, MO; a son, Douglas (Gaye) Kohler of Belton, MO; and one sister, Dorothy Lindley, Chillicothe, MO; 6 grandchildren: Kimberly (Michael) Best, Kelley (Michael) Worthley, Curtis (Shelley) Mills, Christopher (Brandi) Mills, Carey Beth Mills, and Patrick (Erin) Kohler; as well as, 12 great grandchildren: Braedan Best, Aubrey Best, Marissa Worthley, Mason Worthley, Mattie Mills, Riley Mills, Renae Mills, Annie Mills, Easton Mills, Sean Kohler, Makenna Kohler, and Riley Kohler; dear cousins: Phillip Kelley and David Wolfe; as well as, many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri
Donald was born October 23, 1929, the youngest child of John Harold Kohler, Sr. and Dora Isabelle (Beckerdite) Kohler. On July 23, 1950, he was united in marriage to Joan Virginia Nelson in Bentonville, Arkansas. They shared 60 years together before her death on May 30, 2011. Mr. Kohler was a farmer first and foremost. He also was employed early in his career at Ford Motor Co. and Bendix Corp. before going into the home construction business with Robert Hon, and later with Jack Cotton. He left the construction business in 1974 to pursue farming full time, raising hogs and cattle while continuing farming his crops on his farms located east of Harrisonville. An injury to his back forced him to give up the hog operation in 1977 so he turned all his efforts to farming his crops each year, which continued until his passing.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Harrisonville. He was an active member of the Harrisonville Optimist Club from 1961 until the club dissolved, having served as President, Vice President and Treasurer and receiving many awards for his service. One such award was received in 2011 recognizing his 50 years of continued active service to the club and the community of Harrisonville. He was a member of the Cass County Democrat Club and received the honor of Cass County Democrat of the Year in 2010. He was a member of Cass Lodge #147, AF & AM, Harrisonville for 55 years, a member and Past Patron of Bayard Chapter #179, Order of the Eastern Star for 49 years, and an active member in the Cass County Shrine Club at the time of his death. In 2013, he along with his son, Douglas, and grandson, Patrick, joined the Spirit of 76 Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Harrisonville. It was an event that he was extremely proud of.
He and Joan spent their retirement years traveling about the country in their motorhome, hosting the best family vacations at the lake, and camping, traveling, and playing a wicked game of pitch with 5 other couples who were their lifelong friends. He was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt, making may trips to Colorado with Douglas to hunt elk. He also was a huge sports enthusiast. He played college football at MU in 1948 and 1949 so rooting for the Tigers was a must. Family was always important to him and he spent much of his later years visiting and keeping in touch with those he loved the most.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan; his parents; brothers: John Harold Jr., Guy, Neil; and sister, Hazel Clegg. He is survived by two daughters: Deborah Mills and Deadra (Gene) Clay of Harrisonville, MO; a son, Douglas (Gaye) Kohler of Belton, MO; and one sister, Dorothy Lindley, Chillicothe, MO; 6 grandchildren: Kimberly (Michael) Best, Kelley (Michael) Worthley, Curtis (Shelley) Mills, Christopher (Brandi) Mills, Carey Beth Mills, and Patrick (Erin) Kohler; as well as, 12 great grandchildren: Braedan Best, Aubrey Best, Marissa Worthley, Mason Worthley, Mattie Mills, Riley Mills, Renae Mills, Annie Mills, Easton Mills, Sean Kohler, Makenna Kohler, and Riley Kohler; dear cousins: Phillip Kelley and David Wolfe; as well as, many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Missouri
