Obituary

Michael L. Kohl passed away on Saturday, April 11th in Bellingham, WA. Mike had spent the morning working at his office on Saturday. When he realized that something was wrong, he drove himself up to the fire station at Broadway/Dupont where he knew he would be found immediately and where his dog Frances would be protected. He parked his truck and turned off the engine before collapsing from a massive bleed in his brain. Mike passed away two hours later at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Mike is a longtime survivor, beating cancer in 1982 and again in 2002, and coming back from a coma and sepsis in 2006, and three heart surgeries in the following years, never complaining and never giving in, and always working full days to support his family and his commitment to his passion for building and development. He was strong in heart and mind and an ethical businessman and community member.
Mike Kohl made a lasting impact on the Pacific Northwest over the past 40+ years through the many homes, apartment buildings, condos, medical centers, hotels, commercial buildings, and housing communities he built and designed, as well as his work helping condo associations with inspections and planning for repairs. Most recently, he worked as the project supervisor for the Ferndale Police Station and the Ferndale Library. Mike gave special attention to making spaces work for the people who would use them, as well as leaving old trees and protecting the surrounding wetlands on his building sites. He proudly served terms on both the Bellingham City and Whatcom County Planning Commissions and loved our corner of the world, from Barlean’s crab and shrimp, to sailing in the San Juans, skiing at Mt. Baker, swimming and boating on Lake Whatcom, and walking the beaches at Deception Pass.
Mike was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, friend, and “pet-dad” who put more love and compassion into the world than he took out of it. He quietly supported families in need, helping them to find good work and step out of the welfare system to live on their own terms. He often spotted people in restaurants or stores who needed a little boost and paid for their meals or groceries or their children’s shoes. As a husband, he cherished his wife of 45 years – his high school sweetheart – MaryAnn, taking great pride in her work as an author and publisher of books bringing art to children around the world; seeing his daughter Hannah find success in the New York Broadway musical world and with her paper-cutting artwork; enjoying deep pride in Megan’s exceptional talent and success in Chicago theatre; and speaking with immense pride of his daughters’ partners, Eric Price in New York theatre and Ned Harkness in education. Besides his wedding day and the births of his daughters, the two most precious experiences of his life were walking his daughter Megan down the aisle to marry Ned, and recently holding his new granddaughter Clio Hayes Harkness in his arms.
Mike often said, “A wise man plants a tree whose shade he will never enjoy.” We thank him for his work here on earth and for the beauty he left behind.

Michael Kohl is survived by his wife, MaryAnn Faubion Kohl of Bellingham; his daughters, Hannah Kohl of New York City (Eric Price) and Megan Kohl Harkness of Chicago (Ned Harkness) with granddaughter Clio Hayes Harkness; brother Steven Kohl (Louise) of Poulsbo, WA; brother Alan “Skip” Kohl (Alice) of Montesano, WA; sister Molly Ugles (Herb Martin) of Bainbridge Island, aunt Barbara Bergstrom of Gooding, ID and many wonderful cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and important beloved friends.