John Ray Kohlman

John Ray Kohlman, 82, passed away on August 30, 2026, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho, surrounded by his immediate family.
John was born November 17, 1943, in Pepin County, Wisconsin, to Edward and Elgia Kohlman. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1966, working as a jet mechanic. On September 3, 1966, he married the love of his life, Phyllis (Bauer) Kohlman. They shared 57 years of marriage until her passing in March 2024.
Following his military service, John built a varied and hardworking career. He ran his own logging business, spent many years at Dairyland Power in Alma, Wisconsin, and after retiring from the power plant, worked as a parts person for Marten Transport.
John was an avid outdoorsman — a lifelong fisherman and hunter who loved nothing more than being outside. After retiring, he and Phyllis became passionate collectors, traveling throughout Wisconsin in search of treasures for his specialty: antique fishing lures. After Phyllis’s passing, John moved to Nevada to be near his son Daniel. He later faced recurring infections stemming from an earlier battle with cancer, which led to his move to a care facility in Twin Falls, Idaho.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Elgia Kohlman; his wife, Phyllis; and two children, Deborah and Jon.
He is survived by his children, Daniel Kohlman and wife Kelly, and Gerald Kohlman and his significant other, Christine; his grandson Garrett Kohlman and wife Jayden, of Boise, Idaho; and his sister, Patricia Olson, of Mondovi, Wisconsin.
A memorial celebrating John’s life will be held at a later date. John and Phyllis will be interred together at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Mondovi, Wisconsin, next spring.
John will be remembered for his love of the outdoors, his dedication to his family, and the quiet passion he brought to his lures and travels with Phyllis.