Nancy C. Kohler

We gather to better understand who we are in relationship to God and neighbor. We scatter to be and to establish love and justice in personal and community relationships, knowing that the quality of life in the future is determined by those who intentionally give their lives. – from the St. Mark’s United Methodist Church of Florissant, MO Directory, 1968. These words exemplified the life and legacy of Nancy Carolyn Noble Kohler, born Sept. 10, 1928 in Ferndale, MI. Nancy’s life touched the lives of so many others through her 88 years. Nancy left this life to begin the next on May 22, 2017. Nancy attended Normandy High School, Normandy, MO and graduated in 1946. During that time, Nancy became a member and Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters, an organization which encouraged young girls to build character through moral and spiritual development. Nancy has maintained life-long relationships through her associations with Job’s Daughters as well as the Black River Lodge Group. In 1947, Nancy met John Clifford Kohler, dated for four years and married on Jan. 20, 1951 and lived in Vinita Park until they moved to Florissant in 1957. It was then that Nancy and John and their sons, Thomas Michael and James Scott joined St. Mark’s Methodist Church. For the next 60 years they devoted their energies to their church home. The church’s early years were marked with social outreach including The Back Door Coffee Shop, Friday night dances, the Black Jack Project and most notably the St. Mark’s Mini School which continues to this day. Nancy served on the board of directors of the Mini School which was started by Nancy and Carrie Lu Gates, the educational assistant. Later, Barb Phifer developed an after-school tutoring program called Higher and Higher and invited Nancy and Barb Randolph to become involved as tutors. Together, with a small staff, they tutored elementary children K-through middle school 2 days a week at the Reeb Apartments for 9 years. Nancy and staff assisted the children with their homework assignments as well as developing life skills. Nancy was also a voracious reader and wanted to share the gift of the written word with others. In 2009, she founded the St. Mark’s Book Club which meets monthly to discuss books covering a range of subjects and topics. Nancy served as president and chairman of Kingdom House, an inner city settlement house devoted to helping people achieve better lives, working in conjunction with United Way and St. Mark’s. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband John of 51 years in 2002. Nancy is survived by sons Tom Kohler and wife Liz Kohler of Paducah, KY. ; Jim Kohler and wife Jan of Carlisle, PA. ; surrogate daughter Mary Crissman and husband Lowell of Overland Park, KS. ; 8 grandchildren – Ben, Alex, Jennifer, Hannah, Sam, Henry, Hunter, and Claire and 6 great grandchildren. Nancy also served as a devoted friend and surrogate mother to numerous people throughout her life. A memorial service will be held on July 15, 2017 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 315 Graham Rd, Florissant, MO 63031. Time pending. In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. Mark’s Mini School.

Nancy C. Kohler

September 10, 1928 - May 22, 2017