James E. Kohl, Jr

SSG James Elwood Kohl, Jr. passed away suddenly July 5, 2015 in Plattsburgh, NY. James was born September 6, 1979 in Battle Creek, MI. He attended Comstock High School and lived in Kalamazoo until he joined the United States Army in 2006. During his duty he traveled to Idar Oberstein Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Fort Lewis Washington, South Korea, Fort Sill Oklahoma and Plattsburgh New York. Everyone called him Jimmy. Jimmy had an amazing sense of humor and could light up a room just by entering it. He was always playing jokes on people and loved to clown around. In his free time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, riding his Harley and spending time with his family. Jimmy was an amazing husband, father and friend. He is survived by his wife Jeanie Kohl; son Ryder Kohl and has a daughter Veda Marie on the way as well; mother Diane Kohl Melwiki; step father, Joseph Melwiki Jr.; aunts and uncles Christine Stout, Jay Stout, Jodi Harris, Sherri Hirleman; cousins Justina and Price Harris, Douglas Hirleman, Brad and Eric Stout; mother-in-law Teresa Bailey; brother-in-law Jason Bailey and grandmother Barb Keech. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Thursday, July 16th at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. A service to celebrate Jimmy's life will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, July 17th at the Westside Chapel. Following services burial will be held in Ft. Custer National Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials in Jimmy's memory may be directed to a fund established for his children at http://www.gofundme.com/jameskohl