Kohler, Phylis (nee Wentzel) – Webster Groves, Missouri – Phylis passed away from complications of Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease on March 18, 2025.

She is survived by her children, Tracy (John) Kelly, Gini (Rob) Missavage, and Kendra (Mark) Schieber, her grandchildren Jacob, Patrick, David, Amelia, Nicholas and Maryn, her great-grandchildren, Quinn, Colin, Nora, Sienna and Makenzie, cousins, nieces, nephews, “extra” children and grandchildren, and many friends. She is predeceased by her husband, Terry Kohler, parents, Arthur and Ruth Wentzel, and siblings, Betty Kelly, Peggy Ann Wentzel, Emma Wolverton, and Joe Wentzel.

Phylis was raised in Fenton, MO and attended Lindbergh High School. She was involved in dance from a young age, and danced at The Chase, The Admiral and other St. Louis locations. In her late teens, she owned and operated a dance studio teaching tap, ballet and jazz. Phylis also met her husband at one of her dance shows.Her occupations also included: Aquatic Director at YMCA Decatur, IL; teaching swimming lessons at community pools in Decatur, Carlinville and Staunton; teaching Physical Education at SS Simon and Jude Catholic School; and Dental Assistant for dentists in Godfrey, Gillespie, Alton, and Cahokia. After Terry retired, they moved to Niceville, FL and enjoyed years of sunshine and friendship. Over the years, Phylis was active in Girls Scouts (leader), AFS (exchange student program), the Officer’s Club (Terry was a Colonel in the Army Reserve), Niceville Garden Club, and St. Louis Jazz Club. She loved to travel and was able to go on jazz cruises to Hawaii and the Amazon River, trips to various countries including England, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Tahiti, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, etc., and camping (pop up camper) trips to many states and National Parks. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren. She liked to say she was on call for when someone was sick. She’d rush over very early in the morning, so she could take care of them. She loved taking them on vacations, camping trips, to various shows (Disney on Ice, Barney, etc.), and just spending time with them.

A Mass will be held at St. Ambrose, 5130 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110 at 11:00 am on June 28th, 2025. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Kellys’ home. Memorials can be made to Dementia Society of America (https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate), PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or St. Jude’s (strudel.org), 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.