Michel Kohler

Mike was born in Guernsey, Channel Islands, U.K. on August 30th 1943 during World War II under German occupation to parents John F. Kohler and Agnes Scales Kohler. The Kohler family remained in Guernsey until the end of the war and then moved to their family home in Lenk, Switzerland. When he was seven years old, the family immigrated to Quebec City, Canada where his parents opened and ran a restaurant and at one point even owned a mushroom farm. Mike's father was the seventh generation in a long line of chefs dating back to the 1700's. When Mike was sixteen he decided to leave home and explore the world. He found a job in the Arctic Circle working in a military base zone that was part of the Early Warning Line during the Cold War. He then decided to work at the Algonquin Hotel in New Brunswick as a bell boy and had many stories to tell from that experience. Mike also worked as a ski instructor from 1959 to 1963. In 1963, the family decided to move to Houston, Texas where Mike enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served until 1968 as a photographer for the Stars and Stripes stationed in Japan during the Vietnam War. From 1969 to 1972 he attended West Texas A&M where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics. To pay for tuition he worked at the Amarillo Globe News as a photographer and frequent tornado chaser. From 1973 to 2010 he sold real estate in Lakeway, Texas. He loved Lakeway so much that he decided to spend the rest of his life there after exploring the world. From 1995 to 2003 he and his family owned and operated the third location of the Alpenhof Steak Haus. He leaves behind his wife of thirty-five years, Maria E. Kohler, daughter Marisa M. Braasch, son-in-law Mark Braasch, granddaughter Madeline M. Braasch, granddaughter Cassie Carmean (daughter of Tracy Renee Chambers, deceased), brothers Carl F. Kohler and family, Mario G. Kohler and family. Funeral mass to be held at Emmaus Catholic Church on Friday October 12 at 10am located at 1718 Lohmans Crossing, Lakeway Texas 78734. If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, Mike's family asks that you please send your donation to Christopher House of Austin in his name.