Graham A. Koehler

Graham A. Koehler, 81, passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones at Faith Regional Health Servies, Norfolk, NE.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 8, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, NE with Deacon Claire Meyer officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Newman Grove American Legion Post #73, Air Force Funeral Honor Guard. Visitation will be 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the church.  Inurnment will be at a later date. The funeral service will be livestreamed through the following link: https://www.facebook.com/TLCNGNE?mibextid=hIlR13

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to family for later designation, or Trinity Lutheran Church, Newman Grove, NE.

Levander Funeral Home of Newman Grove, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Graham Arther Koehler, son of Fredrick A. and Ruth Elaine (Graham) Koehler, was born December 7, 1942, in Lubbock, TX. Following his father's discharge from the Air Force, the family returned to Oakland, NE, where Graham graduated from Oakland High with the class of 1960. Following graduation, he worked at the grocery store and Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE.

On November 24, 1963, Graham was united in marriage to Marian Kaye Kittelson at Immanuel-Zion (South Branch) Church near Albion, NE. On July 29, 1966, Graham entered the Air Force. Over the next four years, the couple lived in Biloxi, MS, Denison, TX, and the Philippines. Upon Graham's honorable discharge, the pair moved back to Albion, where Graham began working for Loup Public Power District, earning his Journeyman Lineman status. In August 1977, the family moved to Newman Grove, where Graham had accepted the position of Local Superintendent for Loup Power District. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church from 1977 until his passing.

Graham took great pride in his church, his job, and his community. He was a member and President of the Trinity church council several times, a member of the fire department, and volunteered at town events on a regular basis. As the local superintendent for Loup Power, Graham was always very conscientious of the needs of his customers, often staying home from planned vacations when bad weather was on its way. He spent countless winter nights outside in sub-zero temperatures keeping the power up and running for the community he loved.

Graham's hobbies included fishing, home improvement projects, tinkering, model airplanes and meteorology. As a former avionics technician in the Air Force, he was passionate about military aircraft, and enjoyed air shows and aviation museums. Graham had a very analytical mind, could recall obscure details from decades past, and was notorious for documenting nearly everything, including marking where the sun set on the West side of the house every evening, and even dating light bulbs when he installed them, so he'd know how long they lasted! He enjoyed a good (often inappropriate) joke, smuggling treats to his faithful dog, Eddie, and – most of all – spending time with his grandchildren, who he dearly loved.

Graham is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Kaye Koehler of Newman Grove, NE; two children: Bret (Jasmine) Koehler of Los Angeles, CA and Nicole (Bryce) Spann of Albion, NE; three grandchildren: Julia Spann of Lincoln, NE, Jude and Ruby Spann of Albion, NE; faithful four legged companion: Eddie; sisters-in-law: Linda Koehler of West Point, NE; Janis (Bob) Hamman of Salina, KS; Clare (Rick) Hamman of Kansas City, MO; brother-in-law Bob (Pam) Kittelson of Lincoln, NE; 10 nieces and nephews; along with many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded by his parents; his brother, Brian Koehler, in 2019; and his father- and mother-in-law, Kenneth and Mildred Kittelson.