Ms. MARGE, KOEHL to TAPS

Ms. MARGE KOEHL, (Wife of COL LEONARD), passed away 1/23/2012.

Margaret Koehl (1920-2012) Margaret Koehl, a Novato resident since 1970 passed away peacefully with her family members at her bedside on January 23rd 2012. She is survived by her husband, Col. Leonard (Andy) Koehl, sister, Maureen Milford, son, Alexander (Jeff) Piccinini, daughter, Kathie Beaty, grandchildren, David Baldovin and Andria Davis and great grandchildren Caroline and Grayson Baldovin. Marge was born the eldest of three to Alexander and Ellen Service in Larne, Northern Ireland. As a young girl she was proud to be the Flag Bearer of her local Girl Guides and looked forward to participating in traditional Irish dancing on the weekends with her girl friends. Even into her 80's she could still dance an Irish jig on St. Patrick's Day! At the end of the World War II she left Belfast and moved to England where she worked for Macy's of London in the Accounting Department. Wishing to better herself she accepted a position with the British Consulate and transferred to Bremen, Germany after the war. In Bremen she met and married her first husband US Army Sergeant Albert Piccinini and traveled with him to a variety of US military posts in the USA and Europe. Her husband was posted back to Germany in 1959 where she accepted an administrative assistant position with the Head of US Army Intelligence Division based at USAREUR Headquarters in Heidelberg. Shortly after the posting her husband passed away but she decided to stay in Germany with her son and continued to work at Intel as the Executive Secretary for numerous Deputy Chiefs of Staff. She took great pride in her work and was presented with many meritorious service awards. In 1964 she met Col. Leonard (Andy) Koehl who was himself a widower with two daughters, Linda and Kathie, and they married in Heidelberg in 1965. After various postings in the US and Europe they ended their military careers at the Presidio in San Francisco where they both retired in 1975. Marge was an accomplished gourmet cook and loved to entertain, she was queen of her kitchen! She was part of a gourmet club for many years finding joy in preparing and sharing many a superb meal with the group. She also enjoyed painting porcelain and found pleasure in the Hamilton Lanes AFB bowling league. She loved traveling to Europe and also enjoyed cruises with her husband. Reading books was a passion that she could accomplish at great speed, a talent she learnt preparing and proofing many military documents. Marge will be sadly missed by all her family and her many friends.