William R. 'Bill' Kohrs

MONONA/LOUISIANA-William R. “Bill” Kohrs, age 86, completed his last race on Friday, March 9, 2012, with his wife, Grace, once again waiting for him at the finish line. Bill was born on Nov. 23, 1925, in Yonkers, N.Y., the son of James J., Sr., and Catherine 'Colleen' (Coughlin) Kohrs. He left high school to join the U.S. Navy in World War II, and attended radio school in Madison, where he met Grace Schweppe, his forever 'Honeybee.' Bill and Grace were married on Aug. 18, 1945, in the Navy Chapel at Opa Locka Air Base, Miami, Fla. When Bill was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, he and Grace moved back to Yonkers, where he finished high school. They returned to Madison, where Bill attended Engineering School at the UW-Madison. After graduation, he was employed by Oscar Mayer & Co., where he worked 39 years until retirement. As a mechanical engineer, Bill has his name on several patents for meat processing/packing machines. Bill was very active in his faith community at Immaculate Heart of Mary, as a CCD religious education teacher, a lector, and a Boy Scout leader. He was also a dedicated member of the Schoenstatt lay community. Following a heart attack at age 43, Bill became an avid runner. Marathons beckoned from Boston to San Diego, from Stoughton to New Orleans, and even from Brussels, Belgium. Grace often accompanied him on her bike as he trained around Lake Monona, and waited for him at every finish line. She used many of his souvenir t-shirts to create a quilt, which Bill treasured greatly. Upon retirement, Bill and Grace bought a truck and a fifth wheel trailer, which they used to escape winter weather and stay in touch with friends and family throughout the southern and western U.S. They returned home to stay when Grace's health deteriorated. When she was hospitalized in 2006, he visited her daily until her death in 2009, traveling only occasionally to visit family. After Grace's death, Bill moved to Lake Charles, La., to be near two of his sons. It was there that he eventually became a resident at Grand Cove Nursing Home, and where he died. Bill will be dearly missed by his children, Catherine (Michael) Lofy of Racine, Richard (Kathy) Kohrs of Hickory, N.C., Joseph (Paulette) Kohrs of Sulphur, La., David (Vi) Kohrs of Lake Charles, La., Mary (Charley) Taylor of Montello, Michael (Lynn) Kohrs of Sun Prairie, and Cecile (Dennis) Lindell of Reston, Va.; his 15 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and many friends. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; his brothers, Fred and James ('Buddy'); and his sister, Colleen (Tallman). We will celebrate the blessings of Bill's life with a Mass at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2012. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., (Rosary at 7:30 p.m.) on Friday, March 16, 2012, and at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Saturday. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Waukesha, Wisc. A special thank-you to the staff at Grand Cove Nursing Home and the Brighton Bridge Hospice program in Lake Charles, La., for their kind and loving care. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church or to the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Waukesha, Wisc. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., (Rosary at 7:30 p.m.) on Friday, March 16, 2012, and at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Saturday. We will celebrate the blessings of Bill's life with a Mass at IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5101 Schofield St., Monona, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, 2012.