Plan for the Future
Paul H. Koehler, age 90, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 8, 2023, surrounded by his children.
Born in Elizabeth, NJ, on September 7, 1932, Paul was the son of the late Paul Karl and Hildegarde Metzner-Koehler. Paul lived his entire life in Union, NJ, where he met and married the love of his life Katherine, nee Pultar. Paul and Katherine enjoyed 64 years of marriage together until her passing in March of 2019.
Paul was a strong family man who doted and provided for his loving wife and instilled core values in his children along with his unique brand of humor. Left to cherish his memory are his two sons Paul Koehler Jr and his wife Cheryl, Ken Koehler and his wife Susan, and three daughters Katherine Magnifico, Kristine and her husband Frank Saunders, Karoline and her husband Vincent Maiorano. He was predeceased by his sister Hildegarde Koehler-Felber. Opa will be sadly missed by his 14 adoring grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, many nephews and nieces, as well as countless good friends.
Paul graduated from the Newark College of Engineering, and was president of Pi Kappa Phi. After proudly serving in the US Army, he had a successful career in industrial equipment sales with Honeywell. He was an avid sports fan, classical music lover, shrewd card player, crossword puzzle enthusiast, and comic strip historian. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Union Elks Lodge No. 1583.
Paul was an accomplished professional accordion player, playing many weddings, birthdays, Christmas parties, and Oktoberfests with his band, “The Continentals”, often at the Deutscher Club of Clark and Farcher’s Grove. He learned to play accordion as a boy and would play music with his father, who played guitar. He shared his musical gifts by performing for charity fundraisers through the Union Elks for the benefit of the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Paul played accordion many years for the Bavarian folk dance group Bayern Verein Newark. He toured with the Schuhplattler Gruppe as they competed and earned many medals at “Gaufests” throughout the country and even once in Germany. The Gruppe recognized him for his many years of service in January 2019 when they presented him with an “Ehren-Urkunde” certificate as “Ehren-Akkordeonist” which he proudly displayed at home. Paul and Katherine were lifetime members of the BVN and enjoyed many evenings of Bavarian Gemütlichkeit dancing and enjoying the company of friends and family.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Thursday, July 13th from 4pm to 8pm at the Bradley, Haeberle & Barth Funeral Home, 1100 Pine Avenue, Union. A Funeral Service on Friday, July 14th at 11am at the funeral home, followed by a burial at Hollywood Memorial Park. For more information, please visit bradleyfuneralhomes.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Union Elks Lodge No. 1583, 281 Chestnut Street, Union, the Deutscher Club of Clark, or to any charity of your choice.
