Kevin C. Kohler

If you are looking for a way to describe Kevin Kohler it can be found in 1 John 4:19 “Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.”

When Nelson and Marion Frasher Kohler welcomed their second child into the world on December 15, 1958, in Maryville, Missouri, little did they realize the impact he would have on the communities that he called home for the next 61 years.

Kevin was the younger brother to Debbie and the older brother to Brad and Kelly.  Since Nelson was an educator the Kohlers eventually moved from northern Missouri to Tipton before moving to Versailles.  It was while Kevin was attending Versailles High school that he noticed an underclassman named Sue Moesch and they began dating.  Kevin graduated in 1977 from Versailles High and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps by attending Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg pursuing a degree in education.  Sue graduated in 1979 and the following summer, on May 31, 1980 at the Glensted United Methodist Church they married and for the next 40 years devoted their lives to raising their children, Tiffani and Matthew and to each other.

Kevin and Sue stayed in the mid-Missouri area where he began his teaching and coaching career in the Otterville school district before joining the California school district. He continued to pursue his education at Central Missouri State earning his Master’s degree and Ed Specialist degree which led to a principal’s position with the Russellville school district before coming home to the Versailles school district and then retiring from public school administration at Jamestown School District.  Most recently he coached basketball at Blair Oaks high school and retired from coaching at Light House Preparatory Academy in Jefferson City.  In the middle of teaching and coaching Kevin also sold real estate for the Mehmert Group and Remax in Jefferson City and also worked alongside his son in his business, Redwood Financial Group, selling insurance.

It was during high school that Kevin was influenced by a youth minister named Steve Henry at the Versailles First Baptist Church.  Steve had a vision of a youth choir that would tour and perform mission work, not only locally but out of state.  It was this combination of singing and working for the Lord that inspired Kevin to find his true passion in ministry.  While living in Versailles Kevin began working as youth minister at the Versailles First Baptist Church while also working at the school.  With the encouragement of his family he earned his PhD in Theology from the Covington Theological Seminary in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, which allowed him to serve as an ordained minister in the Fortuna Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church and currently at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Jefferson City.  In addition to being the pastor at Pleasant Hill he also served as the Youth Minister and was in charge of the Blessing Box, a food ministry at the church.

Kevin found his joy in helping others, so in the middle of teaching and being a minister he also was a caretaker for the Department of Social Services, spent time as a private caregiver for youth with disabilities and worked with the Cole County Residential Group Home for adults with disabilities.  He was currently the Executive Director of the Council for Drug Free Youth and had worked as their facilitator for training prior to becoming director. However, it was his realization that there was an even greater need and the importance for young people to have the opportunity to serve others less fortunate, that he founded and was president of 3MT, a mid-Missouri mission team. For more than a decade adult volunteers and youth from Missouri and surrounding states have spent summers working in Central Missouri communities fixing up residences of those less fortunate, all through volunteer effort.  His ministry was a direct response to his belief that we show God’s love to others by our actions.

In addition to his ministry in the pulpit and in the mission field, Kevin used his vocal talent to share God’s word, singing with the Messengers Quarter at California First Baptist Church, the Sweet Harmony Boys Quartet at Versailles First Baptist Church and most recently with the Calvary Road Trio in Jefferson City.

Kevin was never one to sit still and even in the middle of a pandemic he felt called to minister to those in need.  For the past several weeks he battled with the effects of Covid before being called home on Saturday afternoon, November 21, 2020 while a patient at St. Marys Hospital in Jefferson City.

Those who will carry on his legacy of service to others include his wife of 40 years, Sue Kohler of the home; two children and their spouses, Tiffani and Drew Muessig of Jefferson City and Matthew and Courtney Kohler of Wardsville; his grandchildren, who brought him so much joy, Ashlyn and Johnathan Muessig and Emma, Addilyn and Clarke Kohler, his siblings and their spouses, Debra Walewski of Marshfield; Bradley and Robin Kohler of St. Charles and Kelly and Jennifer Kohler of Tipton; his nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents and a foster granddaughter, Cheylee Hoover.

In keeping with his wishes he will be cremated.  We will celebrate the life of Kevin on Saturday, November 28 at 10:30 a.m.  The funeral service will be live streamed to the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Facebook page.  Due to the pandemic, in-person attendance is limited to close family, invitation only.  We invite you to join us virtually to honor his life and legacy by using this link https://www.facebook.com/thepleasanthillbaptistchurch/posts/3477229539023785

A public service will be scheduled at a later date.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and can be mailed to Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home at 210 E. Jasper St., Versailles, MO  65084 or Pleasant Hill Baptist Church at 7804 Heritage Highway, Jefferson City, MO  65109.

“Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

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