William A. Koehring

July 22, 1953 - August 16, 2024

William "Bill" Koehring of Kirkland, Illinois passed away at his home on Friday, August 16, 2024. His gregarious and generous spirit will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Born on July 22, 1953 in Elgin, Illinois, Bill was the son of Oland J. Koehring and Bernice L. (Bartels) Koehring. He is survived by his brother, Dennis; two sons, Andrew and Paul; and partner, Tammy Walker.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Randall, and wife Amy.

Bill attended Northern Illinois University and in 1980 graduated with a Master of Science in Biological and Plant Sciences. He applied his knowledge of plants to the field of agriculture, developing industry-leading varieties of corn for AgReliant Genetics. He would often joke that he was outstanding in his field because he was out standing in his field. His occupation led him across the globe to Europe and South America, and also to the small town of Kirkland where he became an integral part of the community.

An avid outdoorsman and woodworker, Bill was perhaps most at home in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota, paddling a canoe that he built himself. When he couldn't be up north, you would often find him doing chores around his stretch of pristine forest and prairie land, or in his woodshop crafting beautiful and unique pieces that would adorn his home and those of his loved ones.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org).

His friends and family will organize a gathering to celebrate his life sometime in the near future. Cremation rites and arrangements were entrusted to Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL 60115 815-758-3841.