(Seguin) — “What a legacy he leaves behind.” Those are some of the words that are being used to describe the imprint that has been left behind in the Seguin community by Charles “Charlie” Koehler.
Koehler, founder of the Koehler Company, died Sunday at the age 91. For many, that imprint was the result of years of loyalty to not only his family but to his business, to the local schools and to the community.
Among those privileged to see those loyalties unfold throughout the community is Ron Heinemeyer. Heinemeyer says although he and Koehler have worked alongside many projects, it is their friendship that he will miss the most.
“He was probably a mentor in many ways. One in his career of course. But he was a mentor as far as setting examples for hard work, doing what was right and if he did anything, it needed to be done right and he was just a good all-around person to know and to have as a friend. I think I’ve been honored to have known Mr. Koehler all these years,” said Heinemeyer.
Heinemeyer says Koehler’s support of local schools in particular the Seguin ISD is where he was first introduced to Koehler’s true passion for others. Heinemeyer, who served as the interim superintendent of schools for the Seguin ISD in the 1990s — bridging the gap between Dr. Charles Holloway and Dee Carter — says students and their families were always a priority for Koehler no matter how busy he was in running his own cabinet/construction business.
“He was very dedicated to the schools. He was a strong supporter and believed in the schools and that the public should support the school in every way that it can and yet, he at the same time, if things
weren’t like they should be providing a good education for our children, he let that be known as well and I guess that’s another reason why I respected him because he was someone you could look to to get an opinion and it was generally a pretty sound opinion,” said Heinemeyer.
Non-profit organizations, churches and everything else Seguin was always on Koehler’s radar. Heinemeyer says even up until a couple of weeks ago, Koehler was recognized publicly for donating his lifetime tool collection to the Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center, a.k.a. The Big Red Barn. He says wherever help was needed, Koehler was sure to give.
“He was a supporter of anything that was for the benefit of the community, whatever that might be. The Ag Center was definitely a project that he was very supportive of because he believed in what we stood for out there and he lent his support to the Ag Center as well as all community activities. I don’t think there is a place in Seguin that Charlie Koehler didn’t at one time, or another lend his expertise or his knowledge and also his support to do it for the benefit of the community,” said Heinemeyer.
It was in 1954 when Koehler acted upon his “humble idea of owning a two-man cabinet shop.” It was known as Koehler Mill and Cabinet Shop. Since then and over the years, two of his sons and one of his grandsons have continued to build on that legacy. They include son, Steve Koehler, CEO; son, Gregg Koehler, vice-president Mill Operations and grandson, Jared Koehler, project manager.
Following his time with the school district, Heinemeyer says he was hired by Koehler to work for the company located at 1404 N. Camp St . He says it was then that he got to experience Koehler’s work ethic and his commitment of doing business.
“I worked at the Koehler Company. I did that when they were doing school projects. Mr. Koehler hired me to represent, of course, his company and yet at the same time, have input from the educational side of it. Again, I think it exemplifies the type of person that he was to do what was right and to do what was best for the community,” said Heinemeyer.
Heinemeyer says not only was he the first to arrive but often times, the last to “close up shop.”
“He was always the first one at work in the morning. He arrived at work — sometimes as early as 4 o’clock in the morning. In other words, he was the example. He didn’t expect anything from anybody that he wasn’t willing to do himself,” said Heinemeyer.
Today, the Koehler Company is one of South and Central Texas’ most “reputable general contractors and custom mill work firms.” The 67-year-old company built on family values is perhaps why above anything else, Koehler’s family remained his true accomplishment. Other members of his family include daughter, Nancy Koehler and son, Jeff Koehler.
Working for their interest and helping to improve the community in which they lived in has always remained the focus for Koehler and his late wife, Jackie.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 1 at Texas Lutheran University’s Jackson Auditorium.