Kenneth D. Kahler 1939-2026

He was born on Aug. 30, 1939, a balmy, hot summer day. He was the fourth generation to be brought into the world on the West Street family homestead in Hartford.

He was a 1957 graduate of Cortland School, where he loved playing his tenor sax in the dance band with his brother, Jerry, on the alto sax. Ken started his college education at OSU, completing his Bachelor of Science degree in education at Kent State University years later. On July 2, 1960, Ken married his childhood sweetheart, Carla Dixon, at Cortland United Methodist Church and they celebrated 65 years in 2025.

Ken worked at Wean Engineering for many years, where he met lifelong friends, Bill Heddleston, Judy Clifford and Dolly Aho. He was a master interior painter and enjoyed working with his son, Troy, after his days at Wean restoring early homes in Trumbull County. He was an avid reader and embraced sharing his love of books, teaching reading to adults at the Warren Public Library, where he served on the F.O.W.L. Board. During the school year, Ken took pride in tutoring his wife Carla’s fourth-grade students at Emerson Elementary in Warren. Ken enjoyed attending his son Darren’s flute performances through the years and traveling with Carla to visit him in Maryland. He was a past patron of Opal Chapter 181 in Cortland, and traveled often with Carla to neighboring chapters for meetings in Northeastern Ohio.

Ken is survived by his wife, Carla Dixon Kahler; sons and sons-in-law, Troy Kahler and Joseph Cilano of Port Barre, Louisiana, and Darren Kahler and Duane Bowers of Reston, Virginia; his sisters, Nancy (Bob) Ward of Canandaigua, New York, and Janice Kahler of Ballwin, Missouri; a brother, Howard (Sarah) Kahler of Burghill; sister-in-law Judith Kahler of Bastrop,Texas; and brother-in-law, Robert (Cindy) Sentner of Palm Bay, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Wilma Kahler; a sister, Carolyn Fairchild; and a brother, Gerald Kahler.

The family would like to thank neighbors and friends, Mike Taylor, Jamie, Noel and Daniel Hardy, Bill and Linda Stanko, Diana Martin, Suzanne Frederick, Todd Pippenger and Bill Abell. Additionally, Dr. Kapil Kwatra, Dr. Robert Helwig and Dr. Robert Shellito.

Services will be held at noon Monday, May 18, 2026, at Lane Funeral Homes, Shafer-Winans Chapel, Cortland, with visitation starting at 10 a.m. and Star service at 11:45 a.m.

Interment will take place at a later date, at his parents’ graveside. The family asks that if you wish to make donations, please give to your favorite charities. Family and friends may send their heartfelt condolences by visiting www.lanefuneralhomes.com.

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