Werner E. J. Kohlenberg, Jr.

Werner E.J. Kohlenberg, Jr., 72, of Robbins Road, Fitzwilliam, NH, died on March 24, 2012, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH after a brief illness. He was born in Concord, NH on August 19, 1939, the son of Werner E.J. Kohlenberg, Sr., a well-known Concord photographer, and Kathleen Wagner Kohlenberg. After serving in the U.S. Army he graduated from Plymouth State University and later earned a master’s degree in education from the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Kohlenberg began his long teaching career at Peterborough High School, and joined Keene High School in 1970 as Distributive Education Teacher-Coordinator, a position he held for 14 years. During his years at Keene High School he served a term as vice president of the N.H. Association of Distributive Education Coordinators, and was awarded D.E. Teacher of the Year in 1977. After relocating to the Orlando area he joined the faculty of Gateway High School in Kissimmee, Florida, where he taught until his retirement in 2001. Mr. Kohlenberg loved the classroom and was passionate about teaching students practical, hands-on skills that would serve them well in any career they chose to pursue. He remarked many times that being a teacher was “the best job anyone could have.” In addition to his tremendous sense of humor, he was known as a person of integrity and conviction, dedicated to God and family. He passed away peacefully with his family at his side. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lynda Laughner Kohlenberg; daughter Shelley Watson Burch and her husband Chad; mother-in-law Lois Laughner Sullivan; three brothers-in-law, Sandy Laughner, Vinoy Laughner, and Niles Laughner; sister-in-law Carol Laughner; two nieces, Elice Laughner and Georgia Laughner; nephew Perry Laughner; and several cousins in his fathers native Germany.

A private family service will be held later in the spring.