Herbert Kohler Jr. Obituary

Herbert Vollrath Kohler Jr., was an American billionaire businessman, a member of the Kohler family of Wisconsin, and the executive chairman of the Kohler Company, a manufacturing company in Kohler, Wisconsin, best known for its plumbing products.

He died Sept. 3 at age 83.

Herb, as he was affectionaltely known, spent his school years growing up in Kohler as well as at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut.

He spent many summers working on the Kohler farms and in mosts of the manufacturing divisions of Kohler Company.

He served with the U.S. Army Reserve, studied at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and launched a brief acting career at Knox College in Illinois.

He completed his education earning a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial administration from Yale University in 1965.

Herb was named Executive Vice President in 1971, was elected Chairman of the Board and CEO in 1972, and President of the company in 1974 at age 35.

In 2015, he became the company’s Executive Chairman, with son David as President and CEO.

Herb created the brand “ The Bold Loom Of Kohler” in 1967, and expanded the company into a world leader with more than 40,000 associates and dozens of manufacturing facilities on six continents.

He was inducted in the the National Kitchen and Bath Hall of Fame in its founding year of 1989, followed by the National Housing Hall of Fame in 1993.

Ernst & Young named him National Entrepreneur of the Year in Manufacturing in 2002, and Junior Achievement inducted him into its U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2006.

Herb is survived by his wife Natalie Ann Black, children; K. David Kohler, Laura Elizabeth Kohler and Rachel DeYoung Kohler and grandchildren; Tait Kohler, Samuel Kohler, Jack Kohler, Ashley Kohler, child of Hoplamazian.