Joy Ella Koehler

Joy Ella Koehler passed away on Sept 2 at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, VA. She was 76. Joy was raised in Pasadena, CA where she could bike or walk to stores with neighborhood friends. She liked to play sports and especially enjoyed softball. She could throw the ball far and was good at hitting, too. As a child, she also enjoyed doing puzzles with her mom, working with tools in the garage with her dad, and doing needlework with her aunt. She carried these passions throughout her life.

After graduating from Pasadena High School, the family emigrated to Australia where Joy started her nursing career. Upon the completion of her initial nurse’s training, Joy moved back to the US and to Minnesota where she had family. She continued her education at the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia, and, after graduation, became a Nurse Anesthetist at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN.

After some time, Joy’s parents moved back to California and lived next door to a gentleman named Herb Homolac who worked with a guy named Bob Koehler. When Joy came out to visit her parents from Minnesota, Herb set up Bob and Joy on a blind date. Bob and Joy maintained a long-distance relationship that included a lot of letter writing. On their third date, Bob proposed on the 4th of July weekend in Minnesota. Bob and Joy were married at Sierra Madre Congregational Church in Sierra Madre, CA. In 2022, they celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.

Bob and Joy started their family in Southern California and had two children, Sandy and Karen. Joy enjoyed family vacations including beach camping trips in the famous camper and, of course, going to Disneyland which was a short 30-minute drive from home. She always stayed active and continued to play softball and tennis. She was always there for her family. After moves between California and Texas, Bob and Joy moved to Fairfax, VA to be closer to family.

Joy is survived by her husband, Bob; her daughters Sandy Chopra (Vikram) and Karen Roller (Chad); her dear grandchildren, Neel, Kate, Barrett, and Nina; her sister-in-law Rosemary Kingston.

A family gathering will take place in Southern California at a later time.