Leroy J. Koehl, 88, Forrest, got his heart's desire on December 2, 2011 when the Lord Jesus Christ called him home.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 am Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at the Apostolic Christian Church, Forrest with ministers of the church officiating. Burial will be in the South Apostolic Christian Cemetery, rural Fairbury.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and 9:00 to 9:45 am Wednesday at the church. The family suggests memorials be given to the Fairview Haven Nursing Home, Fairbury.

Leroy was born October 2, 1923 in Strawn, IL the son of Andrew and Martha Zimmerman Koehl. He married Janita E. Bachtold on February 15, 1948 in Fairbury, IL. She survives in Forrest.

Also surviving are his children: Ronald (Carol) Koehl, Nokomis, FL; Warren Koehl, Valparaiso, IN; Deb (Jeff) Gasser, Sterling, OH; Diane (Max) Miller, Rittman, OH; Dawn (Bill) Kerr, Grand Rapids, MI; two sisters: Bernice Cox and Velda Huette, one brother: Maurice (Carol) Koehl, all of Fairbury; twelve grandchildren, two step grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by two brothers, two sisters and is reunited with his grandson Taylor Jeffrey Gasser who passed away in August of 2009.

After marriage Leroy and Janita lived and farmed near Strawn for nineteen years. He also worked at Honegger Co. They later moved to Forrest where they lived out the rest of their life together. Leroy was a longtime member of the Forrest Apostolic Christian Church.