Obituary of Steve Kohli

Friday, October 22nd, 2021, Steve Kohli and his wife Michael were listening to Abraham Lincoln quotes while heading on an adventure to a Formula 1 race in Texas. The quote that touched their heart that day went like this: “When you were born you cried, and the world rejoiced. when you die, the world cries and Heaven rejoices.” Shortly after discussing this quote, Heaven rejoiced with the thunderous arrival of an essential worker: Steve Kohli. Steve would not have even wanted us to write him an obituary. He would have thought it seemed pompous and braggy. That being said, Steve Kohli was an unbelievable man of God, husband, father, Papa, friend, patriot to his country and steward of the Lord’s talents. Steven Dale Kohli was born April 10, 1952, to Margery Ellen and Dale Ernest Kohli of Waterloo, Iowa and had a younger sister Tamara Kay. He graduated from Waterloo West in 1970 and attended the University of Iowa where he met his bride, Michael Sue Andersen. Michael and Steve were married in 1978 and had their only daughter Ashlynd Vesti in 1981. That same year Steve graduated from the University of Iowa with a BS in Psychology. Since 1976 Steve has owned and operated Steve Kohli Construction & Design and built residential and commercial along with developments in Iowa City and Coralville. Steve was influential and supportive in the creation of Dance of Iowa/National Dance Academy. Steve built 8 dance studios throughout the state of Iowa. As a young Christian, Steve attended Good News Bible Church and later became an Elder at Parkview church for many years where at both churches he formed deep and eternal relationships. Most recently Steve and his family have been attending Veritas church in Tiffin. After the Lord and family, Steve Kohli had a passion for speed. He worked hard so he could play hard. Steve was a member of the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois and loved to spend time with his friends on the racetrack. Steve believed “You’re only as old as you feel.” To test this theory, at the age of 66 Steve received his black belt in Tai Kwando. To list Steve’s accomplishments seems trivial. Every day was an accomplishment for Steve Kohli. Steve was always a conduit for God and never wanted credit for his work with Heritage Christian School, but instead called himself a tool that God used in co-founding the school. God also used our essential worker as an influential part of the foundation of Faith Academy, a ministry in the SouthEast area of Iowa City. This Monday morning, one of Steve’s best friends sent him a text message letting him know that he impacted more people than anyone will know until we get to Heaven and took the gospel where most Christian’s don’t even go. It reminded us that he built refugee camps in Croatia during the Bosnian war and schools in Tanzania. He helped move Jews from Russia back to their homeland of Israel and built wells through living water. Besides far away missions, Steve brought the gospel wherever he went, construction sites, racetracks, and dance studios. A daily accomplishment of Steve’s were his dogs. Steve loved his dogs. Many will remember his truck with several large breed dogs in the back, or the dogs roaming around job sites or just lying in the sun. Some would say Steve’s greatest accomplishment was winning the American Le Mans 24 hour endurance race at Thunder Hill in 2007, but we know (because he told us daily.) That his greatest accomplishment was his beautiful wife Michael, his daughter, (who he saw himself in daily) and his greatest joys, his grandsons Anders Craig and Nash Steven. Steve ‘s family includes his wife, Michael Kohli. His daughter, Ashlynd Jones, her husband Brad and their twins Anders and Nash; Brad’s son, Kohl; daughter, Aly and her husband Sergio and son, Oliver. Steve’s father, Dale Kohli and his sister, Tamara Kay, her husband Randy, and their son, nephew Jedadiah Joseph. Michael’s family, her dad. John Andersen; sister, Pam Wartick; brother, John Andersen and sister-in- law, Dawn Andersen. Steve’s nieces and nephews are Jason Wartick. Jasons’ wife Trisha and their children James, Maggie and Sam; Tyler, his wife Kristen and their daughter Andy and his niece Abbie. Finally, Steve leaves behind beloved members of his fur family, Rockford, Rolland and Nelly. Steve is proceeded in death by his mother, Marge Kohli, his mother-in-law, Herma Jo Andersen and his brother-in-law, Vance Wartick. The celebration of life service to honor Steve’s life will be held Friday, October 29th at Parkview Church (15 Foster Rd, Iowa City) at 10:00am with a simple reception to follow. Steve was an unwavering Christian and political figure in our community. Steve put the sanctity of life, and a Christ based education before all else. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Faith Academy or Heritage Christian School. Two amazing local organizations that Steve was incredibly passionate about. We hope you find peace in knowing that this was a great world and life for Steve Kohli, but he was not of this world and always knew that. In Love Always, Michael & Ashlynd