Koehler, Ben

Born Apr. 17, 1900 in Geneva, NE to Barthold and Clara Hoover Koehler.
Died July 2, 1993 in Geneva, NE
Married to Virginia Lee Garrett of Dresden, TN and Washington, D. C. on Nov. 5, 1924.
Parents of two daughters: Suzanne and Virginia.
Ben graduated from Geneva High School in 1917, playing basketball and football.
Ben accompanied many musical groups and traveled by train to Lincoln every Saturday to study piano.
In 1917, he enrolled at the University of Nebraska and was on the freshman football squad.
In 1918, Ben entered the Naval Academy, where he also played football. In 1920, he made the only touchdown in the Army-Navy game where Navy won 7-0.

After graduation, he resigned his commission and returned to Nebraska where he coached football at Cotner College in Lincoln in 1922 and 1923.
In 1924, after their marriage, Ben and Virginia went to Cottage Grove, OR where Ben was employed by Standard Bridge Co.
In 1925, they moved to Bogalusa, LA where Ben worked for the Great Southern Lumber Company.
In 1927, they returned to Geneva where Ben joined his brother, John, in the family business.
In 1945, he was in a car accident that left him with brain injuries and impaired sight.
Ben was a member of Community Club, Rotary, American Legion, Masons,
Ben was a member of the school board and the First Congregational United Church of Christ.
Ben continued his love of music his whole life.

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