William Joseph Kahler

William Joseph (Bill) Kahler, 80, a longtime Fairland resident passed away at Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri on Sunday, January 15, 2023. Bill was born to Leland W. Kahler and Emma Jo (Ginn) Kahler on January 1, 1943 in Roxdale, Dallas County, Missouri. In 1945 moving from San Antonio, Texas his family settled in Miami, Oklahoma where he grew up and graduated from Miami High School in 1960. After helping his family move to Fairland, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy on September 14, 1960 and served as a Boiler Tender aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet CVS-12. Upon Honorable discharge he returned to Fairland where he married the Love of his life Davene Matthews on December 21, 1963. Bill attended Franklin Technical School in Joplin for training as a machinist. He worked for several machine shops in Joplin then moved to A1 Tool and Machine, Inc. in Pittsburg, Kansas. In January 1970, Bill was licensed to the Gospel Ministry by Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Pittsburg. In August 1970 they moved to Bolivar, MO where he attended Southwest Baptist University and worked as a Dorm Supervisor of a men’s dorm and the Maintenance Department. After receiving a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Religion and Art, they moved to New Haven, MO where he pastored Memorial Baptist Church and was ordained to the Gospel Ministry. In September they moved to Fairland where he started his carpentry service and pastored Emmanuel Baptist Church in Jay, Northeast Baptist Church in Miami and in March 1982 he became pastor of Warren’s Branch Baptist Church in Seneca where he served for 11 years. In June 1993 Bill began working with the Northeast Area Prevention Resource Center as a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, working in the seven Northeast counties in Oklahoma. After 14 years there, he became pastor of Narcissa Baptist Church in Miami where he served seven years, then retiring due to his health. Bill is preceded in passing by his parents, Leland W. and Emma Jo Kahler; three siblings: brothers James E. Kahler and Michael L. Kahler and sister Barbara Jean Lindsley, and his wife Davene Kahler of the home. He is survived by his son Timothy S. Kahler of Fairland, a daughter Tamra (TJ) Stolezing and her husband Terry of Fairland, four grandchildren; Tyler S. Kahler and his wife Keisha of Sarcoxie, MO, Tabitha Nash and her husband Joey of Grove, Slade, Majesty, and Terry Stoelzing of Fairland and two great grandchildren; Easton and Ensley Kahler of Sarcoxie and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Hudson Creek Baptist Church. Military Honors will be provided by the Miami American Legion Post Funeral Honors Team. There will be a private family burial. Services have been placed in the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairland. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mr. Kahler's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

William Joseph Kahler

January 1, 1943 - January 15, 2023