Ronald H. Kohler

May 18, 1931 - October 9, 2018

RONALD H. KOHLER Ron Kohler passed away at the age of 87 on October 9, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Ron was born May 18, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, and was the son of Harry and Grace Kohler. He worked until late in life in wholesale food sales and was a loving father to eight children. After being a widower at a young age with four children, he met Alma “Tootsie” Shilling in Mundelein, Illinois, who was also widow at a young age with four children. Ron and Tootsie were married in 1967 to form an unbreakable union and the core of the Kohler/Shilling Family. Ron and Tootsie moved to the high desert in Victorville, CA in 1982 from Mundelein, Illinois and enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather. After Tootsie passed away in 1988, Ron found his home in Hesperia, CA, where he lived independently until the end. Ron’s legacy is his unconditional love of his family and friends. He will be remembered for his wonderful smile, his incredible sense of humor, and his ability to recall facts and details down to the letter. His life was full. He loved visiting his family in Ohio, Illinois, Utah and California and celebrated his families’ achievements and encouraged their talent and skills. He made everyone around him feel welcome and radiated warmth and love. We will always cherish how lively and competitive he was, whether at a game of cards, playing pool with his friends at the Moose Lodge, or cheering for his favorite teams: the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. His great passion was his family, which was truly his greatest achievement. He was devoted and dedicated to teaching family values as a true and unforgettable family patriarch. Ron will be remembered by his friends for creating the Saturday Pool Tournament at the Loyal Order of Moose 1808 in Hesperia which, of course, he won most of the time. Preceded in death by his sister, Beverly Wleklinski-Fair, Alma (Schultz-Shilling) Kohler, Jane McCartney-Kohler, and his son, James Kohler. Ron was the loving father of Rick Kohler, Debbie (Kohler) Weirich, Patti (Kohler) Behrendt, Bonnie (Shilling) Siegel, Suzanne (Shilling) Daley, Tom Shilling, and Ted Shilling; devoted grandfather to Lauren (Kohler) Darcy, Adam Comer, Matthew Comer, Jennifer (Weirich) Otchy, Katie (Weirich) Malloy, Megan (Weirich) Chatterton, Keith Behrendt, Scott Siegel, Mike Siegel, Brian Daley, Michelle (Daley) Taylor, Kevin Daley, Amanda (Shilling) Ashdown, Matt Shilling, Timm Shilling, Zach Shilling, Susie (Shilling) Chavez, Rich Shilling, and Bonnie Shilling; and loving great-grandfather to Georgiana, Veronica, Betty, Parker, Gretchen, Andrew, August, Hazel, Nora, Nolan, Ethan, Isabelle, Alexander, Miguel Jr., Lucas, Henry C., Teddy, Henry S., Maggie, Walter, Milton, and Connor. A very special thank you to Dr. Richard Sawan, Apple Valley for his love and devotion to Ron for the last 30 years. A celebration of Life will be held for Ron Kohler at the Loyal Order of Moose at 10230 E Ave, Hesperia, CA 92345 on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 2:00pm. To honor Ron, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that, if desired, donations be made to the Mooseheart Charities (mooseheart.org), the Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charity, Long Beach (rmhcsc.org/longbeach), or The American Heart Association (heart.org).