Jerome "Speed" Kohles
November 28, 1946 — February 23, 2014
Jerome Frederick “Speed” Kohles was born on November 28, 1946 to Delbert and Celestine “Sally” (Arkfeld) Kohles in Panama, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School before moving to California and finishing his schooling at Crestmoore High School in San Bruno, California.
On November 26, 1966, he was united in marriage to Constance “Connie” Gross at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Dena, Denny, and David.
Speed worked as a truck driver first at Panama Transfer for twenty years, spent six years at Jim’s Meat Market in Harlan, and retired from ABF in 2009 after seventeen years. He served as Mayor of Panama for ten years and somehow made time to coach his boys’ baseball teams for several years when they were younger.
He loved to watch his grandkids in all of their sporting events and was their number one fan. The joy of his life was being able to take his family on a trip to Disney World and knowing that his grandchildren would always have the memories that were made. On Saturday afternoon, Speed loved to change oil in his garage with his sons and son-in-law. This ten minute task often turned into an afternoon of family fun. He was a kind and social person who always had a smile on his face. He loved to volunteer, especially at St. Michael’s paper drive.
On Sunday, February 23, 2014, Speed died peacefully at his home with his family by his side after battling Corticobasal Syndrome for five years. He had attained the age of sixty-seven years, two months, and twenty-six days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Ron.
He is survived by his wife of forty-seven years Connie Kohles of Harlan, Iowa; children: Dena and her husband Scott Leinen of Harlan, Denny “Trutz” Kohles and his wife Kari of Panama, Iowa and David “Shimo” Kohles and his wife Heather of Panama; ten grandchildren: Kelsey, Derek, Haley, and Macie Leinen, Connor, Caitlin, and Carson Kohles, and Riley, Jacey, and Kendall Kohles; brothers and sisters: Gary Kohles and his wife Beverly of Portsmouth, Iowa, Karen and her husband Alfred Wingert of Panama, Carol and her husband Phil Wegner of Panama, Michael Kohles and his wife Janet of Folsom, California, Joe Kohles and his wife Janet of Portsmouth, and JoAnn and her husband Jay Townsend of Wawa, Pennsylvania; sister-in-law Meg Kohles of Panama; other family members and many friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial with Concelebrant Rev. Vince Ohlinger on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Music was provided by Kathleen Kohorst, Nancy Osborn, and Darla Hansen. Honorary casket bearers were Kelsey Leinen, Derek Leinen, Haley Leinen, Riley Kohles, Connor Kohles, Jacey Kohles, Macie Leinen, Caitlin Kohles, Kendall Kohles, and Carson Kohles. Serving as casket bearers were Luke Zaiger, Ron Ronfeldt, Glen Wingert, Steve Wegner, Jeff Kohles, Marvin Kohles, and Patrick Kohles. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery.
PDF Printable Version
On November 26, 1966, he was united in marriage to Constance “Connie” Gross at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Dena, Denny, and David.
Speed worked as a truck driver first at Panama Transfer for twenty years, spent six years at Jim’s Meat Market in Harlan, and retired from ABF in 2009 after seventeen years. He served as Mayor of Panama for ten years and somehow made time to coach his boys’ baseball teams for several years when they were younger.
He loved to watch his grandkids in all of their sporting events and was their number one fan. The joy of his life was being able to take his family on a trip to Disney World and knowing that his grandchildren would always have the memories that were made. On Saturday afternoon, Speed loved to change oil in his garage with his sons and son-in-law. This ten minute task often turned into an afternoon of family fun. He was a kind and social person who always had a smile on his face. He loved to volunteer, especially at St. Michael’s paper drive.
On Sunday, February 23, 2014, Speed died peacefully at his home with his family by his side after battling Corticobasal Syndrome for five years. He had attained the age of sixty-seven years, two months, and twenty-six days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Ron.
He is survived by his wife of forty-seven years Connie Kohles of Harlan, Iowa; children: Dena and her husband Scott Leinen of Harlan, Denny “Trutz” Kohles and his wife Kari of Panama, Iowa and David “Shimo” Kohles and his wife Heather of Panama; ten grandchildren: Kelsey, Derek, Haley, and Macie Leinen, Connor, Caitlin, and Carson Kohles, and Riley, Jacey, and Kendall Kohles; brothers and sisters: Gary Kohles and his wife Beverly of Portsmouth, Iowa, Karen and her husband Alfred Wingert of Panama, Carol and her husband Phil Wegner of Panama, Michael Kohles and his wife Janet of Folsom, California, Joe Kohles and his wife Janet of Portsmouth, and JoAnn and her husband Jay Townsend of Wawa, Pennsylvania; sister-in-law Meg Kohles of Panama; other family members and many friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial with Concelebrant Rev. Vince Ohlinger on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Music was provided by Kathleen Kohorst, Nancy Osborn, and Darla Hansen. Honorary casket bearers were Kelsey Leinen, Derek Leinen, Haley Leinen, Riley Kohles, Connor Kohles, Jacey Kohles, Macie Leinen, Caitlin Kohles, Kendall Kohles, and Carson Kohles. Serving as casket bearers were Luke Zaiger, Ron Ronfeldt, Glen Wingert, Steve Wegner, Jeff Kohles, Marvin Kohles, and Patrick Kohles. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery.
PDF Printable Version
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jerome "Speed" Kohles, please visit our flower store.