Comments on: Jerome J. “Jerry” Kohl

By: Marge Keep

Marge Keep — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 23:59:13 +0000

I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Jerry for many many years at East High School. His dedication to his students, hands on education, and to always having time to tell a good story or offer a it of advice with humor was so appreciated. He always had time to listen or help no matter what the project or event.

My heartfelt sympathy in the loss of a truly great person, educator, father and friend.

By: Aaron Robinson

Aaron Robinson — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:40:28 +0000

Mr. Kohl and his great teaching style was the only thing that kept me in high school. Rest in peace your life did make a difference on this earth!

By: Sharol Starr

Sharol Starr — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 01:42:23 +0000

Mr. Kohl was my wood working at East High in the 70’s. I loved him. What a great guy! Lori, I’m sorry for the loss of your Dad. Such a good teacher.

By: Steve and Nancy Thayer

Steve and Nancy Thayer — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:17:16 +0000

It is with sadness and sympathy that we lean of Jerry’s passing. He was a man who carried on his parents values, my aunt Jen and Uncle Jerome

By: Phillip Mendoza

Phillip Mendoza — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:15:40 +0000

I had Mr Kohl in the early 80s he was a very good teacher. He like to tell us storys . The class tried to get him to tell us how to hot wire a car. He told us he once told his class in an Omaha school he was teaching on a Friday . He said on Monday half his class was in jail.

By: Jay Salzman

Jay Salzman — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:15:11 +0000

Jerry was a wonderful wonderful teacher and such inspiration to me and my mechanical abilities. I would run into him at different events and we would always have a great chat for a bit. I have and do use him, his and my stories in my everyday relationships with sons, and coworkers for giggles or real life learning events. My condolences to the Kohl family’s and may “Mr Kohls” great teaching, fun, and humorous soul rest in peace until we meet again.

By: Jeffrey T McCabe

Jeffrey T McCabe — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:55:25 +0000

Working with Jerry at East High for decades was a pleasure and honor. The teaching skill and connecting with students has been talked about over and over but he was a funny man and prankster. We pulled funny stunts and pranks often and in good nature on each other and our colleagues. His dedication to the school and to automotive technology education was never more evident than when he came out of retirement to teach full time when then current auto teacher was deployed to Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom for nearly an entire year! He will be greatly missed.

By: Brad Carper

Brad Carper — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:33:35 +0000

“Mr. Kohl” did, in fact, have a life long effect on me, and many other students at East High. He taught us more than just mechanics, but also about life. He was a great story teller, and always loved telling a good joke. Whenever I ran in to him, he was always willing to talk about what I had been up to, and what he was into at the time. I will always have fond memories of him. He will be missed.

By: Bob Kerns

Bob Kerns — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:35:37 +0000

Second to my father, Mr. Kohl was the major influence in my career path. Had him for multiple years at East High auto shops and felt like a million bucks when he had me rebuild the engine in his Corvair my senior year. Years later my youngest comes home from school at East and says he had an old guy who was really good as a sub in shop class, struggles with the name and I say “Mr. Kohl?”, he says that’s it. Made my day and he got an ear full of Mr. Kohl stories.
Thanks for the learning Jerry.

By: Dave Thurber

Dave Thurber — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:48:52 +0000

I served with Jerry in the Naval Reserves 1984-1990. We had limited training resources at the Lincoln Reserve Center for those of us in the engineering rates. Jerry was a Chief Petty Officer at that time and made arrangements so that we could go to his auto shop at East High on Saturday morning of drill weekends. He would provide a session on some related topic plus let us bring in some home project to work on. Chief Kohl was always looking for ways to help his shipmates!