Kent Franklin Kehler
Marriages
Lila Kehler
1st wife - 3 sons from this union
Lori Kehler - 1967
2nd wife - a daughter born in this union
Barbara Kehler - 1989
3rd wife - Married for 33 years
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6B - December 17, 2023
Kent F. Kehler, age 93 of
Grand Junction Co passed
away at home under hospice care. Kent was born
in Monte Vista Colorado
to Clyde and Mildred
(Helmick) Kehler. He grew
up in Center Co on the family farm until his high school
years when his father moved
the family to California,
where Kent graduated from
high school. After graduation he moved back to Colorado
working briefly. Kent married Lila and joined the US
Army. Kent and Lila union had 3 sons out of this marriage.
During his brief time in the military he was deployed to
Japan, while in Japan a crate was dropped on him breaking
his back, which ultimately led to his Honorable Discharge
in 1951 at which time he moved back to Colorado and eventually moved his family to Boise Idaho where he worked
for Simplot. Kent went to work for Boise State College
and the Meridian Bowling Lanes. Some of his best times
were spent at Boise State College where he was the person who started up the Intercollegiate Women’s Bowling
Tournament. In 1999 Kent was inducted into the Hall of
Fame in Boise Idaho for his contributions to the Women’s
Bowling Program, he was put in there by his “kids” in the
bowling program that he taught. He always talked very
highly of all of the “kids” in the program, he loved the time
he was able to spend with them at Boise State.
In 1967 Kent married Lori and of this union they had
one daughter. Shortly after that Kent moved his family
back to Center Co to help his brother-in-law run his farm
equipment business. After a few short years Kent purchased this company from his brother-in-law and ran his
own business for several years before his health made him
need to move to a lower elevation. So in 1984 the family
moved to Grand Junction.
In late 1989 Kent once again found love with Barbara.
They were married in April of 1990 and were happily married for 33 years before his passing. Kent and Barbara’s
marriage made his family go from 4 kids to 6 kids and several grandkids and great grandkids. Kent and Barbara enjoyed traveling all around visiting family and just site seeing. Kent never met a stranger, no matter where he went.
He loved getting people to laugh and he was very good at
accomplishing that. Kent is going to be missed by so many
friends that he has made through the years.
Kent was proceeded by his parents, Clyde & Mildred,
Sisters Doris, Clydena, EllaMae, and daughter-in-law
Lynn.
Survivors include his wife Barbara of 33 years, sister Joyce and husband Donald, sons Keith, Boyde, Kurt
and wife Terri, daughter Sheri husband Lamar, daughter
Jennifer husband Ray, son Kriss wife Kim. Kent has 24
grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren with 3 more due
this coming year. Kent is also survived by several nieces
and nephews and many friends.
Services will be held in the spring of 2024.
