DOVER, N.H. – The Rev. Irvin E. “Gene” Koelker, 84, died peacefully Monday, March 25, 2013, surrounded by family members.
He grew up in Ohio where he met his wife of 62 years, Betty McKelvey Koelker. He served in eight parishes throughout his 53-year career in the Maine conference of the United Methodist church.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; sister, Helen Welch of Akron, Ohio; four children, Jon and wife, Donna, Steve and wife, Shelley, Tom and wife, Patsy, and Jane and husband, Jim; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Gene and Betty count Dr. John Yieh and wife, Su, and their daughter, Janet, as part of their family.
A period of visitation will be held 3-6 p.m. Friday, March 29, at Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market St., North Berwick. A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at St. John’s Church, 28 Cataract Ave., Dover, N.H. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to United Methodist Church Camp at http://www.mechuwana.org/partners.html. Online condolences can be expressed at
www.johnsonfuneralhomme.com.
Rev. Irvin E. ‘Gene’ Koelker
