Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Viki Lynn Kohler


Viki Lynn Kohler died peacefully at home on Oct. 14, 2009, after a long battle with renal failure. She was relieved to be home with her cat, Hope, and surrounded by loved ones. Her final days were filled with well wishes and visits from those who loved and cared about her.

Viki was born to Bill and Opal Kohler on Aug. 20, 1952, in the old Hailey hospital in Hailey, Idaho. She attended Bellevue Elementary and then Wood River High School, graduating as salutatorian in 1970. She was an academically competitive student, expecting nothing but the best from herself. She was well known, well liked and involved in many clubs and organization during her high school years. The highlight of high school was a trip to the United Nations and Washington, D.C., where she watched the moon landing with friends. She received a prestigious full-ride academic scholarship to attend the College of Idaho. Her academic success and commitment continued, and she gradated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1974. She then returned to the Wood River Valley to follow her love for education. Her first teaching job was at Carey Elementary School where she taught from 1974 until 2006. She taught kindergarten, third grade and sixth grade, but her passion was fifth grade where she spent the majority of her career. Students loved her because she always made learning fun with things like the "purple problem," the state fair and the business fair. She will also be remembered for her bold statements with the crazy birthday hat and wild earrings. She was well known among students past and present, as well as among faculty members, for her love of books, trivia, Mad magazine and the Harry Potter series. She retired in 2006 due to health issues and moved to Boise.

She bought the home of her dreams, which she thoroughly enjoyed decorating. One of the greatest joys for her in the last few years was being close enough to enjoy holidays and special events with her adopted family, the Krileys. Kriley family events will never be the same without her. Viki touched so many lives because of her generous spirit, her razor-sharp wit, her quirky sense of humor and most of all, her love. She will be greatly missed. Viki grew up attending and serving in the Bellevue Community Church. In Boise she enjoyed attended Cloverdale Church of God.

Viki is survived by her aunt, Roselyn Peck Drussel of Fairfield, Idaho; her cousins Marlaine "Sissy" Merritt of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Elva Kincade of Bellevue, Idaho; numerous other cousins; her adopted family, Pat and Marcia Kriley of Boise; Lance and Rachel Schmidt and their boys, Trey, Devon and Ethan, of Boise; Mark and Charity Nelson and their daughter, Alyssa, of Boise; special friends Margaret Walth, Barbara Tingey and Susie Colon; many other friends; and numerous students whose lives she touched.

She was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents; her parents, Bill and Opal Kohler; and her brother, Tom Kohler.

Memorial contributions can be made to Carey Elementary School.

A memorial service will be held in the Carey High School Auditorium on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. Cremation is under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home, and services and flower arrangements are under the direction of Wood River Chapel in Hailey.

Condolences for the family may be submitted online at www.CloverdaleFuneralHome.com.




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