John Kehler, Jr.

OZARK…. John T. (Jack) Kehler, Jr. (1st Sgt., U.S. Army, Retired), a resident of Ozark, died early Friday morning, January 11, 2019 at his residence. He was 69.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 18, 2019 in the First United Methodist Church of Ozark with Reverend Gene Nelson and Reverend Bobbi Lasseter officiating. Graveside services with full military honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Thursday.

Jack Kehler was born February 18, 1949 in Shenandoah Heights, PA to John T. and Elizabeth Blue Kehler, Sr. He grew up in Mt. Carmel, PA and entered the Army as an infantryman, retiring in 1998 after 23 years of service. During Jack's military career, he served as a member of the U.S. Army Pistol Team, in the Multinational Force and Observers Sinai, in the 3rd U.S. Infantry Division (The Old Guard) in Washington, D.C., and on the Armed Forces Inauguration Committee for President George H.W. Bush.

After his retirement, he moved to Ozark to teach JROTC and coach the rifle team at Carroll High School for 11 years. He loved his new role of teaching and mentoring teenagers. In 2005, he was named National JROTC Instructor of the Year. After retiring a second time, he became involved in volunteering for the American Red Cross and deployed to several natural disaster areas such as New Jersey/New York after Hurricane Sandy. He was an avid sports enthusiast, having played basketball at Mansfield State College, PA, and was the ultimate fan watching his boys play soccer in high school and at the college level. Jack and his wife also discovered a passion for traveling, taking cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and several each to Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition to setting sail, he also loved attending concerts of the classic rock bands from the 1970s.

He was a member of the Claybank Masonic Lodge #908 and the First United Methodist Church of Ozark. Mr. Kehler was preceded in death by his parents and a son, John T. Kehler, III.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Robin D. Kehler, Ozark; two daughters, Melissa May (Darrell) and Amy Diem (Chris), all of Lititz, PA; two sons, Jesse Kehler (Victoria), Montgomery, AL and Jacob Kehler, Newnan, GA; two sisters, Sue Mannello (Charlie), Kulpmont, PA and Barbara Cimino (Joe), Middletown, PA; eight grandchildren, Nichole Werner (Matt), Jordan Trimble, Ashley Hauck, Dillan Chubb, Nickolas Chubb, Christopher Chubb, Dominick Diem, and Broc Diem; and five great-grandchildren, Olivia, Khloe, Madison, Lincoln, and Brielle.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lary's Speakeasy Inc, c/o Lewis Trammell # 1102, 1414 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 or via their website http://www.larysspeakeasy.org/donate.html. Donations are used to provide assistance to laryngectomy patients in need of help. Jack became a laryngectomee in 2015. Or to the American Cancer Society at https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/memorial-giving.html.

Visitation

Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home
508 Faust Ave
Ozark, AL  36360
Thursday, January 17, 2019
5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M.

Service

First United Methodist Church
167 E Broad St.
Ozark, AL  36360
Friday, January 18, 2019
11:00 A.M.

Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery
1 Memorial Avenue
Ft. Myer, VA  22111

Memorial Contributions

Lary's Speakeasy, Inc., C/O Lewis Tramell # 1102
1414 N. Damen Avenue
Chicago, IL  60622


American Cancer Society