Henry R. "Hank" Koehler, Jr., 69, of Little Compton, died peacefully with his wife by his side, Friday, January 29, 2016 at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence, RI after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Katherine M. (Kelley) Koehler.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, son of the late Henry R. and Dorothea S. (Hey) Koehler, he was raised in Cheektowaga (Buffalo), NY prior to moving to Little Compton. A graduate of Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga, NY Class of 1964, he earned his BS in Business Administration and Finance from Valparaiso University in 1968, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served his country in the United States Army in Fort Dix and Fort Meade. Mr. Koehler worked for Aetna Life & Casualty in Buffalo, NY and then later transferred to Providence, RI where he met his wife Kate. He then went to work for his father at Kusch & Koehler Company in Kenmore, NY, eventually taking over the business until he retired to Little Compton, RI in 2006. A long term member of the Youngstown Yacht Club in Youngstown, NY, he served as Membership Chairman for several years. He loved sailing his boat "Seawind" throughout Lake Ontario, the Thousand Islands and the New England coastal waters. Most recently he had taken up model railroading, a carryover from his childhood days in Buffalo.
Including his wife, survivors include a brother: Frederick H. Koehler and his wife Joan Moon-Koehler of Simsbury, CT; an aunt: Aileen Koehler, who was born in 1915, of Wayne, PA; a nephew: Christopher G. Koehler of Tahoe, CA; and a niece: Lindsey E. Koehler of Seattle, WA.
Memorial Service to which relatives and friends are invited will be Friday, February 5, 2016 at the Little Compton United Congregational Church at 10:00 A.M.
Memorial visitation will be Thursday from 5 - 7 P.M. at the Potter Funeral Home.
Private burial will be held at a later date.
Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to: Sakonnet Preservation Association, P.O. Box 945, Little Compton, RI 02837.