Slim was born on July 12, 1924, in Glen Elder, Kansas. He was the older of two children born to Kenneth and Louise (Francis) Kohler. He was raised on a family farm and received his education in Glen Alder having graduated from Glen Elder High School in 1942. Following his graduation, he moved to Wichita and worked for Boeing.
He was 17 years old when he joined the US Navy. He served his country during WWII as a flight trainer on aircraft carriers in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged from the US Navy. He moved to Granada Hills, CA, in the early 1950's.
Slim was united in marriage to Lois Verboort on December 4, 1970, in Hillsboro, OR. Following their marriage, they made their home in Palos Verdes, CA. until 2002 when they moved to the house that he built in Lincoln City, OR. After Lois's mother's death in 2002 Slim and Lois purchased her mother's home in Verboort. They have been sharing their time between these two residences.
Slim was an airline pilot for Western Airlines from 1952 till his retirement in 1984. He enjoyed collecting antique guns and was a board member and vice-president of the Remington Arms Assoc... Slim enjoyed helping and organizing the Remington Factory Museum in llion, NY and the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, WY. He enjoyed flying, traveling and published books on Remington guns. Slim also wrote articles for Remington for various gun magazines.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his spouse of 35 years, Lois Verboort-Kohler (Verboort, OR), three children and their spouses; Steven Kohler (Woodland Hills, CA.), Scott & Marlena Kohler (Fillmore, CA.), Katie & Jason Light (Redondo Beach, CA.), seven grandchildren; Jordon, Travis, Brad, Greg, Garrett, Simon, Stephanie Kohler and one sister Charlene Laporte of Colorado Springs, CO.