Rev. Dr. James L. Koehler, Sr., 87, of Bristolville, entered peacefully into eternal life on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 8:33 a.m. in his home following complications from a heart attack.
He was born Oct 29, 1934 in Warren the son of the late Phillip and Mary Drescher Koehler Sr. and was a lifelong area resident.
A 1952 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School, Jim attended Moody Bible College and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Whitefield Seminary and was an ordained minister of the John Knox Presbyterian Church.
He first served the faithful at the Bristolville Church of the Brethren until 1971 and then found and pastored the flock of Shekinah Church in Bristol for a total of 53 years of preaching the word of God. He was passionate about educate and was the Director of the Shekinah Christian Academy.
Jim was a line o type machinist by trade and worked previously for the Tribune Chronicle and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Jim was an extreme train buff and always dreamt of being a railroad engineer. He was also a huge sports fan and enjoyed watching the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Indians.
Jim was united in marriage on September 8, 1956, to the former Martha W. Church and they had just recently celebrated 65 years of marriage. To this union was seven children Rev. James. L. (Elizabeth) Koehler Jr. of Warren, Robert E. Koehler of Bristol, Douglas E. (Janet) Koehler Sr. of Bristol, Diana L. (Timothy) Heinz of Austintown, Robin L. (Michael) Taylor of North Jackson, Amy C. Carter of Champion, and Mary M. (TJ) Smith of Burghill. He is also survived by twenty-three grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren; and a sister Donna J. (Jack) Crawford of Fowler.
Besides his parents, Jim was preceded in death by two sons-in-laws Keith Carter and Randall Friend; and by two brothers Phillip Koehler Jr. and Kenneth Koehler Sr.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, November 18, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home.
Combined Funeral Service with his wife, Martha W. Koehler, will take place on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. James L. Koehler Jr. as celebrant.
Burial will take place side by side in Sager Memorial Park in Bristol.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions take the form of donations in Rev. Dr. James L. Koehler Sr.’s name to Shekinah Church, 1875 Hyde Shaffer Road NW, Bristolville, Ohio 44402
Caring and Dignified arrangement have been entrusted to the care of the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road, NE, Warren, Ohio 44483, 330-394-6200. Dedicated To Serving Your Loved Ones. This obituary may be viewed, and condolences sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.
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