Walter Koehler

Walter Herman Koehler, Jr., 82, of North Little Rock, died Monday, August 7, 2006. He was born January 13, 1924 in North Little Rock, the only child of Walter Herman, Sr. and Eva Siepiela Koehler. He was the Chairman of the Board of Koehler Bakery Company until 2001, when the firm was sold.
A lifelong Catholic, Walter attended St. Patrick?s Elementary School in North Little Rock, Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys, and St. Louis University, where he received his B.S. in Accounting. During WWII, at the age of 19, he was accepted for admission into the Navy?s V-12 Officer?s Training Program where he spent time studying at Harvard University, The University of Notre Dame and Washburn University. In World War II, he served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant JG aboard the USS George F. Elliot, a troop transport vessel staging in the Pacific for the invasion of Japan.
In 1946, he joined his father and uncle as a partner in the Koehler Bakery Company of North Little Rock, and soon thereafter met his future wife, the former Mary Evelyn Troillett of Little Rock. Married in 1948, Walter and Evelyn shared a wonderful 58-year marriage that produced five sons and ten grandchildren.
During his career at Koehler?s Bakery, which his father and mother founded in 1919, Walter built the business into one of the largest multiunit retail bakery chains in the South. In 1971, he directed the move of the business from its original location at 711 Main Street in North Little Rock to a large modern bakery plant on Warden Road he designed and built. In business 82 years and with a payroll of 150, Koehler Bakery was one of the largest employers in North Little Rock.
Walter was active in the community affairs of his hometown. He served as president of the North Little Rock Rotary Club in the 1960s and later became District Governor of Rotary for the State of Arkansas in 1972. In 1983, he became the Chairman of the Pulaski County Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus, a member of the North Hills Country Club, and a director of First American National Bank and Twin City Bank. Walter was a multitalented individual: businessman, computer programmer, draftsman, painter, and author of several published humorous short stories. He was an avid fisherman, golfer, and the most loyal fan at any of his sons? or grandchildrens? activities.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and two infant sons, Joseph Anthony Koehler and John Raymond Koehler. He is survived by his wife, Mary Evelyn Koehler, three sons; Daniel Walter Koehler and wife, Edna Higgins Koehler of Little Rock; Robert Michael Koehler and wife, Marilyn Trexler Koehler and Ralph Edward. Koehler and wife, Mona Batie Koehler, both of Sherwood, and ten grandchildren; Andrew Michael Koehler; Jeffery Trexler Koehler; Stephen Robert Koehler; David Frederick Koehler; Adam Edward Koehler; Katie Lynn Koehler; Anna Christine Koehler, all of North Little Rock, and Hadley Elizabeth Koehler; Daniel Walter Koehler, II; and Christopher Bernard Koehler, all of Little Rock.
There will be a vigil service on Wednesday at 7pm at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday at 11am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Honorary pallbearers are Raymond Troillett, Ralph Troillett, James Koehler, Max Koehler, Ira Strack, Joe Brinkley, Thomas Pruss and Denver Umfleet. Pallbearers will be Walter?s seven grandsons mentioned above. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Arkansas Hospice, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204 or Catholic High School for Boys, 6300 Father Tribou St. , Little Rock, AR 72205. Online obituary and guest register at www.northlittlerockfuneralhome.com.