Obituary of Fred Koehli

Fred Koehli of Strome, AB, formerly of Honolulu, Hawaii passed away on Friday, October 19, 2012 at the age of 91 years Fred was born on July 20, 1921 to Ernest and Marie Koehli of the Polska area, north of Daysland. Fred was predeceased by both of his parents, by four sisters, Marie, Rose, Henrietta and Elizabeth, and six brothers, Ernest, Erhardt, John, Henry, Theodore, and Werner. He is survived by one sister, Margaret of Leduc, AB, and three brothers, Albert, of Whiterock, BC, Robert, of Chase, BC and Arther, of San Diego, CA., as well as many nieces and nephews and their extended families. Fred took his schooling at Polska and then at Reward. He worked as a farm hand for several neighbors including the Nixon family and played sports in the Daysland area. In 1939, with his mother's consent, he joined Canada's Armed Forces. He served in England and Northern Europe, primarily as a military auto machinist. He was injured during the invasion of Europe in 1944 and was in hospital in England when the war ended. Upon returning home, he operated the convenience store in Daysland owned by the Popilchakfamily(sister Rose). Fred then relocated to Edmonton where he became a journeyman pipefitter and hired on the Grinnell &Co. installing sprinkler systems for commercial buildings. In the early 1960's, Fred was transferred to the Los Angeles office of Grinnell and worked in the California area. Soon after, he was sent by the company to Honolulu, Hawaii to be a foreman on the project to build the AlaMoana Shopping Centre, the largest of it's kind in the world at that time. Upon completion, Fred and a Hawaiian partner started their own business, Pacific Rentals, which they operated until they were bought in the 1990s. Fred lived in retirement in Honolulu until March, 2005 when he suffered a severe stroke and became incompacitated. His nephew Gary, arranged to have Fred transferred back to Canada and with the help of Dennis and Patsy Koehli, had him placed in the Viking Extendicare Facility, where he remained until his passing. Fred will always be remembered as that "crusty old Uncle" with the softest of hearts and will be missed by many relatives and friends. A funeral service was held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. from the Daysland United Church with Mary Ann Pastuck officiating. Interment has taken place in the Daysland Cemetery. Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to Viking Extended Care, The Daysland Legion, or the charity of one's choice.