James Kohler

Jim Kohler went to see our Lord peacefully and surrounded by family and friends on November 18th, 2024. 

The funeral will be held at St. Vincent's west of Mandan, ND at a later time next summer.

Jim was born in Glen Ullin, ND on August 5th, 1939 (but if you asked him he was born in a barn so never confirmed) to William “Bill” Kohler and Magdalene “Molly” Kohler. 

Jim’s first marriage produced seven children. He farmed his father’s land and relocated to the west coast for work and to raise kids before returning back to his home of North Dakota. He divorced in 1989 and ultimately reconnected with and married the love of his life Kathy (Gietzen) Kohler who have been married for 30 years. Jim adopted Kathy’s two girls and moved west of Mandan where he bought land and built his dream home with his own two hands. He then began working for Ken and Mary Schmidt until he retired in 2017.

Jim was a man of many talents and could do, fix, and build anything. He had several jobs but the one he loved the most was working for Ken Schmidt. Ken was not only his boss but one of his best friends. 

Once retired, Jim had no loss of things to do and was always working on something. Whether it was at his own home, helping his daughter build her new home, or on the phone with someone else fixing something a thousand miles away. His knowledge, talent, and giving spirit was endless. Jim was the best husband and father we could ask for, but more than that, he was the best grandfather; as spending time with his grandchildren was a highlight of his later years. He poured out love and was there if someone ever needed anything and always seemed to know just what to say.

Jim was a man full of life and laughter. He loved to play his guitar and sing and if you got the joy of sitting around the fire singing while he played, you’d never forget it. Anyone who ever met him, would be sure to get a good firm handshake and a joke. If you knew him at all, you definitely picked up one of his sayings. Jim was strong in his faith and always found the positive in things no matter how hard things were. It’s his infectious spirit and laughter that will continue on and never be forgotten. 

On March 25th, 2024, Jim shared 45 years of sobriety with his Alcoholics Anonymous community. He was a no-nonsense “Let go and let God”, “Turn it over”, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kind of sponsor and would jump in his car to go intervene with a drunk that needed help or spend hours on the phone talking someone off a ledge.

We would also like to give a special mention to Jim’s best friend, Ken Schmidt (and his wife Mary), for all his love, friendship, caring, and support, to Jim and his family over the years. We’d also like to mention and thank his other good friends MaryAnn Falk and Charlie Volk for their friendship as well. 

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Molly Kohler, sisters Lavonne, and Lorraine, and brothers Gene and John, and son Jeff and daughter Dawn. He is survived by brothers Bill and Tom, sisters Shirley and Arlene, wife Kathy, sons Jayme and Joseph, daughters Beth, Ashlee, Sara, Tonya and Melissa, grandchildren Jed, Nathaniel, Mariah, Trevor, Zachariah, Zuli, Jake, Elliot, Levi, Mia, Sadie, Enly, William, James, Magdalene (Molly) and Colt (Rooster), and 15 great-grandchildren.