Flags have been lowered and this notice is shared in memory of long-time Okanagan College trades instructor Robert (Bob) Koehle.
Bob Koehle was the first Heavy Duty Mechanics instructor and among the first employees present when Okanagan College opened its doors to students as the BC Vocational School in 1963. He would go on to serve as department Chair. Koehle was the first employee to reach 25 years of service and remained dedicated to the College and his students until his retirement in 1989.
In 2013, as part of the College’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Koehle was recognized as one of the “50 people who made a difference” in the growth and development of the College in its first half century.
His legacy and support for learners lives on in The Bob Koehle Award for Heavy Duty Mechanics. The award, established in Koehle’s honour, supports students who have completed Level 2 of the four-level Heavy Duty Mechanics apprenticeship program. To date, the award has impacted the lives of 15 students, with the most recent recipient having just been identified in the last few weeks.
He is remembered by his son Steve Koehle, former Vice President Students at Okanagan College, who shared the following message on behalf of the family:
"Dad (Bob) was fiercely proud of his work at Okanagan College and of the successes and careers of the many hundreds of students whose lives he influenced. In his home life, we remember him as a steady, firm pillar of our family. 'Granddad' was absolutely beloved and revered by his 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Others recall Bob as a great baseball coach, a dry wit, and a ruthless card player! On his behalf - and for those who knew him well at OC - we send out a final cheer of 'Go Leafs Go!'"
Koehle’s obituary and virtual space for condolences will be shared in College Matters when available.