Our Legacy of Love

ABOUT “OUR LEGACY OF LOVE:”

Are you married; engaged; or in a long-term relationship? Have you experienced fantastic highs

and stressful lows with your spouse or children? Many of us have encountered communication breakdowns. Over a fifty-year period, the Koehler’s experienced the gamut: financial hardships; career challenges; the teenage years; “at-risk” foster kids; resident in-laws; numerous cross-country moves and other unanticipated adventures. Peggy describes these challenges as Red Sea encounters – “Where the waters begin to rise before we’ve made it to shore.” Ken and

Peggy share their survival secrets which include faith in God, prayer, and an abundance of love and laughter. Peggy says the key in any relationship is to never lose your sense of humor – at least at the same time.

Our Legacy of Love introduces Peggy and Ken, two extra-ordinary people from diverse backgrounds, who fell in love; married and somehow managed to not only survive the Lion’s Den ordeals, better known as the teenage years, but become strengthened and more in love as a result. In this touching and often humorous memoir, they inspire all of us with their stories of devotion, tolerance, faith, and triumph. Most couples would have thrown in the towel years before, but as Peggy wrote, “We had no choice but to make our marriage work. We couldn’t afford to do otherwise. Failure was not an option.”

Though written following Ken’s passing in 2004 – eleven weeks after celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Legacy includes Ken’s own words via the heartfelt love letters written to his beloved wife and the anecdotes he penned under his “Kenfetti” byline, a column published by a Southern California newspaper. Subsequent to Ken’s death, Peggy received hundreds of letters from those whose lives had been touched by this couple. This one from her daughter’s best friend sums up the Koehler’s' influence on those dear ones that crossed their path:

“I wanted to write something special about Ken. But in my mind there is no Ken without his Peggy. Peggy and Ken, like Burns and Allen; Tracy and Hepburn, the names are synonymous. You can’t say or think of one without the other. Their essence was one of an unbreakable partnership, united forever. And in the eyes of this “other daughter,” their love story is as close to perfect as any you will find on this earth. Their home to me was a place of warmth, comfort, respect and acceptance. It was also one filled with love, great humor, tremendous faith, and a generous spirit that knew no bounds. I remember vividly how their presence in my life was truly an inspiration and haven in an often chaotic teenage world. Now, over 30 years later, I am still blessed with their daughter, Jill, as my closest friend and confidante, and the Koehler’s as my second family. I am so grateful to Peggy and Ken for embracing me as one of their own and for their loving influence in my life. I will cherish them both – always.” (Chris. C.)