Richard E. Kohl

Mr. Richard E. Kohl, 86, of Galesburg, went home to his Lord Jesus Christ on October 8, 2018 at Rosewood Care Center on Columbus Day. He was born April 16, 1932 in Aurora at Copley Memorial Hospital. His parents, Roy and Florence (Coop) Kohl preceded him in death. He was also preceded by one daughter Beth Ann Kilgore Tabb and two brothers, Cliff and Eugene Kohl. Richard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sally Ann (Bearden) Kohl. They were married April 17, 1954 in Aurora. He is also survived by his son, Jeff (Lori) Kohl of Dahinda; his two sisters, Nancy Perusse of Minooka and Maudine (Michael) Fruehwirth of Tucson, AZ; six grandchildren, April (Marc) Zehr of Phoenix, AZ, Ryan (Blayne) Kohl, Megan (Jason) Hallam, and Matthew Kohl all of Galesburg, Adam Kohl of Dahinda, and Morgan (Blake Cunningham) Allen of Moline; and five great grandchildren, Ava and Connor Zehr, Landon Kohl, Lucy Hallam, and Owen Cunningham. Richard worked for the C.B.&Q. railroad, later the Burlington Northern, and then the BN Santa Fe Railroad for 33 years. He started working in the corporate office in Chicago on Jackson Blvd. He held many jobs in that office and became an asst dept head, then he was promoted to a station auditor and transferred to McCook, Nebraska and then Galesburg. He then went to work for the purchasing dept as a chief tie inspector for his last 10 years. He learned to fish while living in the LaCrosse, WI area and enjoyed that sport very much. His great joy was his family and preaching at the Galesburg Rescue Mission and area nursing homes. Memorial visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 11, 2018 at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg.  Private family funeral services will be held.  Burial will be in Oneida Cemetery, Oneida, IL.  Memorials may be made to the Galesburg Rescue Mission.