More detail on this person: Richard W.
Kohlbrand, Jr. announces the death of this great
man after a long struggle with Parkinson's
disease. Dick was a hero on many levels to his
family and those who knew him.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 1, 1924, he was
the only child of Richard and Cora Kohlbrand (Cora
lived to be 100). Immediately following high
school graduation, Dick entered the Air Corps and
was trained and became the pilot of a C-47 (a
DC-3). He was deployed to England and France
during World War II, flying missions to transport
and deliver fuel to Gen. Patton's tanks, and later
to recover POWs as the camps were liberated. He
would speak about being in tears the entire flight
back to base after picking up the liberated
prisoners.
Following the War he married his high school
sweetheart, Betty A. Hauck, which began a 56 year
world wide adventure and love story until Betty's
death in 2003. In the late 40s Dick worked as
project manager for the GE jet engine plant in
Cincinnati, and at which time son John was born in
1948.
Dick's passion was for flying. He remained in the
Air National Guard, and was recalled to active
duty for the Korean war. In addition to fixed wing
aircraft, he was trained to be a helicopter pilot
of the H-TH-13. He was assigned as the personal
pilot and aide to Gen. Trudeau, the commander of
the 7 Division in Korea. During this tour of duty
Dick won his first Distinguished Flying Cross by
volunteering to locate and evacuate a downed flyer
behind enemy lines at night while under fire.
Following the Korean War Dick elected to remain
on active duty and was assigned as a helicopter
instructor in Ft. Sill, OK, and at which time
daughter Sally Ann was born in 1954. In 1957 the
family moved to Orleans, France where Dick was
the operations officer of the aviation section of
the headquarters command. The family traveled
expensively while in Europe, and Dick enjoyed the
flying opportunities to transport many high
ranking officers in the European command. Upon
returning to the US in 1960 Dick held a variety of
assignments including being assigned as the post
aviation officer at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri. In
1964, Major Kohlbrand was appointed as the Army
Attache to the US Embassy in Leopoldville, Congo.
The family arrived in the Congo in the middle of
the Congo rebellion of 1964-1965. This began a
most interesting chapter in lives of the family.
Dick was very involved with the Congolese military
and the mercenaries who were hired to help rescue
the country from Communist rebels. He became a
close confidant of many of the leaders, including
Gen Mubuto who later was president of the country
for many years. Dick was awarded a second
Distinguished Flying Cross in 1964 when he flew
his plane into a city under fire, and remained on
the ground for an hour, while under fire, to
organize and carry out the evacuation of a downed
UN pilot, a wounded solder and a physician. After
returning from the Congo in 1966 Lt. Col Kohlbrand
completed his military service at Ft. Rucker, AL.
He and Betty moved to Thousand Oaks, CA in
1969.
He held jobs with RCA and Sperry Univac as a
division controller, when in 1980 he opened his
own property management business in Thousand
Oaks. He successfully operated that business until
fully retiring in 2000. During this period he
became a Member of Rotary Club of Thousand
Oaks where he served as club secretary for many
years. The organization was a very important part
of his life for many years until his health
rendered him unable to attend the meetings.
His happiest moments were to experience the birth,
growth, education and maturity of his 4
grandchildren; JoAnn Kohlbrand born in 1979, John
Denman in 1985, Joe Denman in 1986 and Ashley
Kohlbrand in 1988. He was also blessed with a
wonderful son-in-law, Trey Denman, daughter-in-law
Sarah and two great-grandchildren, Hannah and
Harper. Dick was a hero to his family. He was
devoted to wife Betty and spent many years as her
personal caretaker before her death in 2003. He
insisted that all of his children and
grandchildren obtain good educations, which,
through his mentoring, urging and support did
occur. He became our friend, as well as father and
grandfather.
In the more recent years, he enjoyed Dixieland
jazz and festivals, good food, socializing,
football and auto racing. He loved to go out on a
boat. Dick had an amazing wit that was apparent to
the end. His subtle one-liners were so wonderful
to enjoy. We will miss them and him.
The family requests that any tribute in lieu of
flowers be in the form of a donation either to
Rotary International, C/O Thousand Oaks Rotary
Club, P.O. Box 1225 Thousand Oaks, CA 91358, in
his name, or Mothers Against Cancer, founded in
the memory of his late granddaughter Anne
Denman, at M.A.C., PO Box 5103, Kingwood, TX
77325.
Services will be at 11 AM Friday, October 23 at
the Griffin Family Funeral Chapels, 101 E. Wilbur
Road, Thousand Oaks with interment immediately
thereafter at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial
Park in Westlake Village.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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