Obituary

Ann Hale of Penticton passed away peacefully on October 31, 2024, at the age of 81 years. 

She will be forever missed by her daughter Kelly Kohler; her son Siggy Kohler; grandchildren, Lance Kohler, Kenzie Tarbet, Dirk Tarbet, Jordan Kohler, Justin Kohler Siggy Kohler Jr.; sister, Gail Nichol and family;  brother, Elmer Joey Jackson. Ann was Predeceased by her son Kenneth Franz Kohler on December 3, 2022.

Gran was born February 9, 1943, in Grace Hospital, Vancouver as Marilyn Gaye Jackson, her mother Alice (Ruler) Jackson and her father Raymond Jackson had five young children at the time. Alice had bone cancer and passed away in 1945 so the difficult decision to put Marilyn up for adoption was made quickly.

Arthur and Irene Hale were thrilled to adopt Marilyn and changed her name to Karen Ann Hale. Gran always spoke fondly of her adoptive parents.

In 1999 we went on a journey to find Gran‘s birth family. We quickly found her older sister Gail Nichol, who was born and raised in Vancouver BC and moved to California with her husband, a pilot named Jim Nichol, and their two daughters. The sisters remained close, all four brothers were deceased prior to our initial introduction.

Ann was married at 18 to Sig A. Kohler and they had three children, during the marriage, they ran Kohler European Sausage together in Aldergrove BC after divorcing in 1985, Gran then went back to University and had her entire career with Revenue Canada.

She quickly moved up In that department and was very proud to be Chief of Administration when she retired. 

Gran celebrated Halloween in her true nature dressing up to entertain her friends at the retirement centre, she went back to her room and passed away peacefully in her chair. Ann will be dearly missed by all of us here in the Okanagan. 

She left this for her family…

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep. 

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond that glints on snow. 

I am the sunlight on ripen grain. 

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush 

Of quiet birds circled flight,

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

do not stand at my grave and cry; 

I am not there. I did not die.

– Author Unknown

Ann did not wish to have a memorial service and has asked in lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Kidney Foundation of Canada 4940 Canada Way, Burnaby BC V5G 4M5 or you can go online and make donations at kidney.ca