Obituary: Koehler, Helen H.
Age 92
Fred E. Koehler, her husband of 61 years, died in 2008.
The oldest child of J.R. and Grace Hansen, Helen was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and grew up in Kansas City and St. Louis.
She earned a BS degree in Foods/Chemistry from Iowa State University and an MS in Nutrition from University of Nebraska.
After her husband took a faculty position at Washington State University in 1958, Helen also joined the WSU faculty, conducting research and teaching food chemistry and sensory evaluation of foods.
Some of her major research projects included chemical analysis of lamb flavor components, investigation into chemical degeneration of eggs, and determination of which dried bean cultivar offers the best dietary protein.
She was elected to Sigma Xi, the scientific research society, and earned several awards, including Washington Research Scientist of the year in 1986 from the Washington Home Economics Association.
Helen authored and co-authored numerous scientific papers on her research and also reviewed scientific papers for Food Science Journal.
Helen’s first love was her husband Fred, whom she met when she was working as a Home Economics Agent in Missouri, teaching farm wives the best techniques for meal planning, canning and food preservation, and other domestic tasks.
Helen and Fred married in 1947 and had four daughters.
She often noted that without her husband’s help and support she couldn’t have raised her children without child care while earning her master’s degree and then working part- time.
Her love of music led her to earn another BA later, in Music.
A member of St. James Episcopal Church in Pullman, Helen served on the altar guild, sang in the choir, organized and led the St. James chapter of Episcopal Church Women, worked on the annual church rummage sale, and baked communion bread.
Helen belonged to many organizations, including the Pullman Historical Club, Friends of Music, Early Music Players, Omicron Nu (the Home Economics Honor Society), Mu Phi Epsilon (music honor society), DAR, and the WSU Women’s Club.
As a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Helen served as the group’s president, program vice president, editor, state board member, and UNICEF card sales chair; she also belonged to the AAUW book club.
AAUW honored her work in the organization and in the community in 1986.
Helen volunteered in Camp Fire Girls and led groups for two of her daughters for many years.
She served on the board of the Camp Fire Girls’ Camp Neewahlu on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Helen also enjoyed traveling near and far, ballroom dancing, reading widely, Scandinavian furniture, cats, and the color blue.
Helen is survived by daughters Carolyn Koehler, Mary Ruth Schaumberg (Edward), Dr. Jane Koehler (Stephen Nahm), Kristin Ferguson (Thomas); grandchildren Elizabeth Schaumberg and Ned Schaumberg; brothers J. Richard Hansen and Robert C. Hansen; and nieces Claudia Hansen Beggs (Steve), Gail Hansen, Kathy Hansen-Adams (Robert), and Peggy Hansen.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 2, at St. James Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to St. James Episcopal Church, Pullman, or the charity of one’s choice.
Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA is caring for Helen’s family.
Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com