William Koehler, age 78, of Crawfordsville, Iowa and Raeford, North Carolina, died Wednesday, February 26, 2014, in Raeford, North Carolina following a sudden illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2014, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington with Pastor Maureen Howard officiating. Calling hours will begin 11:00 a.m. Sunday, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington, Iowa, where the family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 Sunday afternoon. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington, IA;MacPherson Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, N.C.; or the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be sent for Bill's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Bill was born October 5, 1935, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Peter and Wilma ( Barr) Koehler. He attended school in Ainsworth and graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1953. He was married to Sandra Madden on June 1, 1985.

Bill was a lifelong farmer in Washington County and retired at age 68. Bill was very active in his churches, both in Iowa, where he served as an elder for 16 years, and North Carolina. Music was a very important part of Bill's life, and he shared his talent as a bass by performing with several productions in the Washington Community Theater, sang in his church choirs, participated in the Washington Choral Society and sang with the gospel quartet, "Rural Route Four." Bill was a member of the Board of Directors of U.S. Bank in Washington for 23 years.

Bill loved sports. He participated in a bowling league in Washington for 49 years and was an avid golfer, enjoying golf throughout the winter months close to his North Carolina home. Anyone who knew Bill knows he was a huge fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears. When he moved to North Carolina, he added ACC Basketball to his list of favorites. After his retirement, Bill became an avid woodworker. A favorite hobby was sharing his crafts by making memories through furniture and clocks for his family.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy Koehler of Crawfordsville, Iowa and Raeford, North Carolina; three daughters, Linda Crose and husband Scott of Urbandale, Iowa; Anne Mills and husband Brad of Houghton, Iowa; Beth Winsor and husband Robert of Roundhill, Virginia; step-daughter, Melanie Crumpler and husband Charlie of Dunn, North Carolina; step-son, Chad Grieser and wife Madalina of Timisoara, Romania; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandson; one sister, Peg Gerot and husband Bob of Washington, Iowa; and one brother, Ed Koehler and wife Karen of Ainsworth, Iowa.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Wilma Koehler; one sister, Karen Lombardo; and one son, James Koehler.