William S. Koller, 66, of Douglassville, died in a tragic accident on Saturday in Nag's Head, NC.
He was born of the late Franklin & Mary Louise (Poettinger) Koller, August 22, 1949, in Pennside. Bill graduated from Mt. Penn High School in 1967 and attended Penn State University, then completed an apprenticeship program at Textile Machine Works, from which he received his Journeyman's papers. He married the love of his life & best friend, Alayne (Kistler) Koller, in 1973, celebrating 43 years of marriage & 48 years of being together. They live in a new home in Douglassville after 35 years in their beloved swiss chalet, in Mt. Penn. Bill was a unique individual: generous, patient, funny, outgoing, to whom his family meant everything. He will be sadly missed by everyone who ever knew him.
Bill was a machinist for Deka Battery for 29 years, planning on retiring next year. He worked ten years previously at Pennsylvania Optical in Reading. He worked long hours & was passionate about helping young machinists become the best at their job. Bill was a long-time member of Duryea Sports Car Club & had spent many hours recently creating the club's bi-annual road Rallye. Bill had recently rediscovered bicycling, which he enjoyed tremendously, bird watching, & bee keeping. He was a member of Flying Dutchman Ski Club & loved skiing. He was previously active in Boy Scouts, serving as an assistant leader in Troop 377 in Stony Creek. Two of the defining moments in Bill's life were attending Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico, first as a teen scout in 1964, then sharing the adventure as an adult with his son Mack. Bill was also a scuba diver, last diving in the Grand Caymans, as well as an amatuer spelunker in his misspent youth. Bill loved trains & traveling with his wife, Alayne, having visited Iceland, United Kingdom, & Ireland this past spring. Bill & Alayne were planning a retirement trip to Alaska for next year.
In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by three children: Nicole (Larry) Kern of Exeter; Katyana (Christopher) Strain, also of Exeter, & Mackenzie (Cindy) Koller of Manayunk. He is also survived by four siblings: John, Ann, James, & Mary Ellen. The lights of his life are four grandchildren: Nora, Justin, Zachary, & Connor. Bill spent many hours with his grandchildren & was always coming up with new ways to entertain them. Bill also leaves behind his beloved cockapoo Sophie, who will miss him & their nightly walks.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 12, 2016 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. with services beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Lutz Funeral Home, Inc., 2100 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606. Interment private. If desired, donations to honor Bill's full & happy life can be made to the Boy Scouts of America, through aplacetogive.scouting.org. For online condolences, please visit www.LutzFuneralHome.com
He was born of the late Franklin & Mary Louise (Poettinger) Koller, August 22, 1949, in Pennside. Bill graduated from Mt. Penn High School in 1967 and attended Penn State University, then completed an apprenticeship program at Textile Machine Works, from which he received his Journeyman's papers. He married the love of his life & best friend, Alayne (Kistler) Koller, in 1973, celebrating 43 years of marriage & 48 years of being together. They live in a new home in Douglassville after 35 years in their beloved swiss chalet, in Mt. Penn. Bill was a unique individual: generous, patient, funny, outgoing, to whom his family meant everything. He will be sadly missed by everyone who ever knew him.
Bill was a machinist for Deka Battery for 29 years, planning on retiring next year. He worked ten years previously at Pennsylvania Optical in Reading. He worked long hours & was passionate about helping young machinists become the best at their job. Bill was a long-time member of Duryea Sports Car Club & had spent many hours recently creating the club's bi-annual road Rallye. Bill had recently rediscovered bicycling, which he enjoyed tremendously, bird watching, & bee keeping. He was a member of Flying Dutchman Ski Club & loved skiing. He was previously active in Boy Scouts, serving as an assistant leader in Troop 377 in Stony Creek. Two of the defining moments in Bill's life were attending Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico, first as a teen scout in 1964, then sharing the adventure as an adult with his son Mack. Bill was also a scuba diver, last diving in the Grand Caymans, as well as an amatuer spelunker in his misspent youth. Bill loved trains & traveling with his wife, Alayne, having visited Iceland, United Kingdom, & Ireland this past spring. Bill & Alayne were planning a retirement trip to Alaska for next year.
In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by three children: Nicole (Larry) Kern of Exeter; Katyana (Christopher) Strain, also of Exeter, & Mackenzie (Cindy) Koller of Manayunk. He is also survived by four siblings: John, Ann, James, & Mary Ellen. The lights of his life are four grandchildren: Nora, Justin, Zachary, & Connor. Bill spent many hours with his grandchildren & was always coming up with new ways to entertain them. Bill also leaves behind his beloved cockapoo Sophie, who will miss him & their nightly walks.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 12, 2016 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. with services beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Lutz Funeral Home, Inc., 2100 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606. Interment private. If desired, donations to honor Bill's full & happy life can be made to the Boy Scouts of America, through aplacetogive.scouting.org. For online condolences, please visit www.LutzFuneralHome.com
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