Peter Kohler,
P. Eng. – 77, Valley. It is
with great sadness we announce the sudden death of Peter Kohler at his
home in Fort Myers, Florida on Monday, December 2, 2019. Peter was
born in Talheim, Germany to the late Martin and Anneliese (Bossert)
Kohler. Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers,
Richard and Paul Kohler; sister-in-law, Edith Kohler; brother-in-law,
Helmut Ehrenreich.
Peter will be
lovingly remembered by his sons, Perry Kohler and Michael Kohler
(Jamesie Coolican) and their mother, Joan Kohler; granddaughters,
Annaliesa and Campbell Kohler; partner, Stella Yorke and her children
and grandchildren. He will also be sadly missed and fondly remembered
by his sister, Irmgard Ehrenreich; sister-in-law, Maria Kohler;
special lifelong friend, Adolf Bauer, Talheim, Germany and many
relatives and friends throughout Canada, Germany and the United
States.
Peter graduated from University
of Konstance, Germany with an Engineering Diploma in 1964 and
immigrated to Canada in 1965. He attended Queens University in
Kingston, Ontario and graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in
1968. Following his graduation he went to work for the IOC in Labrador
City, NL until 1974. Peter then went to work as Chief
Engineer at North Star Cement in Cornerbrook, NL until 1978. At this
point Peter decided to realize his life's dream of starting his own
business, and moved to Truro where he and his friend, John Ballard,
started a cellulose insulation manufacturing company.
After branching out on his own
Peter founded Kohler International Ltd (present day Kohltech Windows
and Entrance Systems) manufacturing vinyl windows in 1982. Over the
next 27 years Peter's company grew from four employees to over 400.
Peter received many awards for his entrepreneurship, but to him his
greatest reward was providing employment for so many people. Peter
always said the company would not have succeeded without the support
and loyalty of his employees.
Peter will also be remembered
for his philanthropy, establishing a scholarship for Engineering
students at Memorial University of Newfoundland, his donations to
Colchester East Hants Health Centre and Cardiac Research at the QEII,
and his support for Brigadoon Village in Nova Scotia. Peter was an
avid skier, golfer and tennis player and enjoyed driving sports cars.
He also had a keen interest in investing and current
affairs. Above all, Peter looked after the people he cared for, and
loved and enjoyed being Opa to his two young granddaughters.
Arrangements have been
entrusted to Mattatall – Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young
Street, Truro, where Peter’s family will receive friends
from 4-7 p.m., Saturday, December 14, 2019. Funeral service will be
held 3 p.m., Sunday, December 15, 2019, at First United Church, 711
Prince Street, Truro, Reverend Carolyn Wilson Wynne officiating.
Family flowers only, please.
Donations in Peter’s memory may be made to support the
construction of an arts facility called "Dave’s
Place" at Brigadoon Village at brigadoonvillage.org or by
calling 1-902-422-3387 or made to fund cardiac research at the QEII
Foundation. (For donations to the QEII Foundation, please
direct your gift to Cardiac Research in honour of Peter Kohler.
(Donate at www.qe2foundation.ca,
by calling 1-888-428-0220 or by mailing a gift to the QEII Foundation,
5657 Spring Garden Rd, Park Lane Mall, Box 231, Halifax, NS, B3J 3R4.)
Donations for both charities will also be accepted at the funeral
home. Private messages of condolence may be sent to Peter’s
family by viewing his obituary on-line and selecting "Send A
Condolence" at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com