Penwell-Gabel Cremations, Funerals and Receptions - Larry Roger Kohns 1944 - 2022 - Penwell-Gabel Cremations, Funerals & Receptions

Obituary photo of Larry Kohns, Olathe-KS

In Loving Memory of

Larry Roger Kohns

1944 - 2022

In Loving Memory of

Larry Roger Kohns

1944 - 2022

Services & Gatherings

Visitation:

Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 10:00am to 11:00am
St. Paul Catholic Church, Olathe, Kansas

Service:

Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:00am
St. Paul Catholic Church, Olathe, Kansas

Penwell-Gabel - Funeral Home (913-768-6777) is assisting the family

Larry R. Kohns, 78, of Olathe, passed away on July 27, 2022.

He was born on January 30, 1944 to Paul and Austrid Kohns in Cherokee, IA. Larry worked as a Civil Engineer for Black and Veatch for over 45 years, until his retirement in 2017. He enjoyed visits with relatives, time at the family farm, walks in the park, pets, and serving as a bus driver for the special needs program in post-retirement.

Larry is survived by his children, Steve and Michelle, along with three grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, and several nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sheryl, in 2001.

Flowers may be sent to Penwell-Gabel Olathe Chapel, 14275 S Black Bob, Olathe, KS, or donations are welcome to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Association, or the American Stroke Association.

Visitation will be held at 10am on Sat., August 13 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 21650 W 115th Ter, Olathe, KS 66061, followed by a funeral mass at 11am. Burial in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.

To leave a message of condolence for Larry's family, or to share a special memory, click the "Share Memories" button above.

Services & Gatherings

Visitation:

Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 10:00am to 11:00am
St. Paul Catholic Church, Olathe, Kansas

Service:

Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 11:00am
St. Paul Catholic Church, Olathe, Kansas

Penwell-Gabel - Funeral Home (913-768-6777) is assisting the family

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Memories & Condolences

Larry was my first supervisor when I started work at Black & Veatch in the summer of 1993. I was a young structural engineer fresh out of college and Larry was very kind & patient, and provided great guidance as I learned how to design in the real world. I recall he invited me out to lunch (and paid for my lunch) at Furr’s Cafeteria that summer along with several of his coworkers in the B&V Bulk Material Handling Section (BMHS)… I think the group included Rich McCartney, Dennis Kriegshauser, and Andy Schwartz among others. As a young engineer I felt privileged to be included in his circle of mature and experienced engineer friends.

I really got to know and became friends with Larry when he became the project engineer for the large Plum Point power project and I was assigned as his assistant project engineer. From 2006 to 2010 we worked side by side on the project and took many trips together to the project site in Osceola, Arkansas. Larry’s extensive experience in the workings of a coal plant were a huge asset to the project and contributed much to its success.

Another great memory of Larry is that for many years he would bring in donuts on his birthday for the entire civil/structural department. He wouldn’t just bring them from one donut shop, but he would get donuts from all the favorite donut shops that morning, bring them all in, and then setup various donut stations throughout the department. Many looked forward to helping Larry celebrate his birthday!

After Larry’s retirement he and I would get together for lunch several times a year. Sometimes our trips included a stop at the Dairy Queen. I always enjoyed catching up on life and hearing about his kids and grandkids, which he adored.

I bought Larry’s 2005 Buick LeSabre a few years after he retired. My daughter drives it and it is still going strong. Every time I see it, I am reminded of him.

I greatly appreciated Larry’s friendship and genuine kindness. I will truly miss our times together! Condolences to his family and all his other friends.

~ Daniel Jones - August 31, 2022

I know Larry for over 40 years. We worked together on the BMHS where Larry was the lead structural and I was the lead mechanical for many years. He always did far more than his share on all projects. I retired before Larry but we always keep in touch and had lunch many times. Larry will be greatly missed by myself and all that know him.

~ Richard McCartney - August 13, 2022

I met Larry as a friend of Dennis Kriegshauser, and realized Larry to be a fantastic person who was willing to use his expertise to advise and assist others. He was a funny and a friendly person and very gifted. (He also enjoyed pictures of old barns!) Condolences to his family and friends.

~ Lorraine Minor - August 10, 2022

I have known Larry about 45 years. That is from when I started working with him at Black & Veatch until the time of his passing. He is among the very few from B&V that I maintained a significant relationship with after retirement. I enjoyed our weekly lunches together with a small group of B&V friends; and Larry and I often went off after group lunch together for a little more in-depth discussion about a car or house issue, his latest post-B&V-retirement school bus driving experience, or about anything else (as long as it included a small dose of ice cream as dessert). At B&V I’ll always remember Larry as a go-to person. Always ready to help regardless of how busy he was. Always ready with a practical solution or a quick cost estimate. I worked on many, many projects with Larry over the years, and really valued his involvement in the really tough ones (like helping a client rebuild after a fire or explosion). I remember and acknowledge Larry for his special work on testing / designing hyperbolic coal silo bottoms, and our section’s “quickie” mechanical and structural cost estimating tools that we used for many, many years. His help also continued on occasion after our B&V careers: A few years ago he helped a church friend of mine with structural basement problems. He reviewed bids and made detailed, written suggestions, resulting in a successful project with the lowest-cost bidder. His pay? I bought his lunch the following week. I’ll miss Larry…

~ J Dennis Kriegshauser - August 10, 2022

As his youngest first cousin, Larry usually drew guard duty watching me on visits to the Kohns farm when we got to Cherokee. He led our adventures in pursuit of snapping turtles which his dad generally had to clean and Grandma Lizzie would cook. On one visit, Larry’s afternoon absence was the source of a life long lesson and pseudo lecture I got from his dad. After calming my tantrum about where was Larry, Uncle Paul explained that there was a neighbor who had some sort of difficulty and needed a helping hand getting some crops harvested. Paul succinctly explained Larry’s role down the road helping a neighbor had priority over making sure I didn’t abandon a Farmall out in some field, out of gas. That’s the kind of men they both were.
Larry was my first real mentor as he sat on a fender, held on with both hands as he coached me around that beloved parcel of Iowa farm land. I’ll spend this Saturday wearing my red “Ridin’ Dirty” t-shirt with the Farmall on the front.
Farmall on, Cous!

~ Tom Smith - August 9, 2022

I am so sorry to hear of Larry's passing. I was honored to work with Larry at Black & Veatch for many years. He was always so nice and always had a smile. He will truly be missed. My condolences to the family.

~ Teresa Williams - August 9, 2022

So sorry to hear of Larry's passing. My prayers go out to the family members.
I worked with Larry at Black & Veatch for over 5 years, and found him to be such a great person to work with. Always there to help in any way he could. Such a hard worker too. We enjoyed sharing memories as we both grew up on a farm, and were the same age.
John

~ john tetzloff - August 8, 2022

I met Larry Kohns in the latter part of May in 1997. I was fresh out of college with my Master of Science degree from Iowa State and was starting my first big job with Black & Veatch in Overland Park, KS. I regarded Larry as a mentor and friend as he helped me through several structural engineering projects. One could successfully argue he played a large part in the first big break of my engineering career. We very much enjoyed talking about old farm tractors when on break from the daily tasks. I liked John Deere tractors, but Larry liked Farmalls, and that was OK. I later left Black & Veatch in the latter part of 1998 to pursue other kinds of engineering, but I tried to stay in touch with Larry whenever there was opportunity. I’m saddened to learn of his passing. I along with his surviving family will miss him. — Wally Greenlees, P.E.

~ Wallace (Wally) Greenlees - August 8, 2022

To the family of Larry Kohns
Written on August 6th, 2022

Remembering Larry

I first met Larry in 2005 when I started to work at Black & Veatch. I believe at that time when I first met him he was not working in the Bulk Material Handling (BMH) group. Larry had worked in the group before and had later returned to the group, and during that time I got to know Larry much better for many years while we both worked in the group. Larry and I spent a good bit of time together. Larry and I talked with each other many times during coffee breaks at work. We went out to lunch many times, either just him and I, and on more than quite a few occasions with a group of people from the BMH group. I had spent time with Larry one on one or with others when we both worked at B&V and even after he retired.

Larry has always been a good friend and was always helpful at work. He is the kind of person that is a pleasure to work with and socialize with. I will always remember his kindness and gentle spirit and how dedicated, smart, knowledgeable, and helpful he was. I know how very hard it was for him after his wife passed away but he had a quiet strength about him despite his sadness. I liked to talk to him about many things. Planning for retirement was one of my favorite topics and whenever I asked he helped me quite a bit with that. He told me about times he had in the military. I especially liked his stories about life on the farm in Iowa. I never heard anyone say anything bad about Larry unless they were kidding around with him and he knew that they were just joking. Who could not like Larry from my perspective. I had always seen how much everybody liked Larry. He was one of the best friends I ever had as both a co-worker and a friend I would solialize with outside of working hours. I am especially glad that I spent allot of time with him after he retired and that he was willing to spend time with me one on one during our many trips to McDonalds.

Larry Khons is an exceptional person and I am fortunate to have known him for many years. I will miss him and be forever grateful that he was my friend.

Sincerely, Mike Remillard

~ Mike Remillard - August 6, 2022