John Richard Koegler
John Richard Koegler, 91, of Easton, PA, passed away on November 26, 2020, at Country Meadows – Forks Retirement Community, while in hospice care after a lengthy illness.
John was born on October 17, 1929 to Edward and Anna (Wischerth) in Hempstead, NY. He was the youngest of their eight children; Loretta Markland (Earl), Joseph (Marian), Edward (Maude), Francis (Mildred), Gertrude Watson (Neville), Robert (Joan) and Charles (Lillian). After graduating from Bishop Loughlin Memorial HS he joined the Air National Guard during the Korean war.
He married Barbara (Bobbie) Jean McMahon in 1952, and together they had five children, Paul (Barbara), Linda Fritz (Charles), Claire Gustafson (Brian), Loretta Susen (John) and Peter. John completed his education with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Brooklyn Polytechnic while raising his family in Oceanside, NY, and working full time at New York Telephone Company. He retired from the phone company in 1984 and moved from Wyckoff, NJ to Forks Township, PA to renovate a 19th century farmhouse.
John was a force of nature, determined to provide for his family and give them the life he felt they deserved. His faith in God and family meant more to him than anything else in the world. Anyone who knew John knew he was the most loving and devoted husband and father anyone could ask for. He never ceased to model the values he strove to instill in his children, especially faith in God, love of family and country, integrity, humility and service to those less fortunate.
John was a multi talented man with many interests and skills. Although self taught, he excelled at whatever he pursued. His interests included history, particularly the Civil War and WWII aviation, vegetable and flower gardening, home restoration, cabinet making, photography and was always ready to lend a hand or join a good party with his extended family and his many friends.
John was predeceased by his parents and seven siblings as well as his brothers in law, four of his sisters in law and nephews, Earl and Peter Markland. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara, five children, twelve grandchildren: Mary Rea, Michael (Julie), Matthew (Maria), Katherine, Amanda and Allison Koegler, Nicholas Gustafson (Olivia), Cheylynne and Sapphire Gustafson, Leigh Glaudel (Bryan), Steven (Brenna) and Andrew (Miranda) Susen; fifteen great grandchildren: Molly, Jack, and Matthew Rea, Virginia, Margaret, Adele, Eliza and Emilia Koegler, Ethan and Norah Glaudel, Levi, Warren, Joanna and Wrenley Susen, Sapphire Gustafson; sister in law, Lillian Koegler and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on December 3, 2020 at Finegan Funeral Home, 4080 William Penn Highway, Palmer, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for John at Our Lady of Mercy (formerly St. Bernard’s) RC Church at 10:00 AM on December 4, 2020. Interment will immediately follow the Mass at Northampton Memorial Shrine on Green Pond Road.
The family wishes to thank the caring staff at Country Meadows-Forks for the compassion and support shown to our parents and entire family. In addition, the family would like to thank Compassus Hospice for helping to make the past few weeks as comfortable as possible for John, as well as the doctors and nurses at Lehigh Valley and St. Luke’s Hospitals who cared for John on numerous occasions during the past several years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Mercy RC Church, 132 South Fifth Street, Easton, PA 18042 or follow John’s example by performing an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness in his memory.