Engineer – Fire Station 23
Deceased:
07/22/2021
Appointed:
07/17/1971
Pensioned:
07/12/2008 – FS23
Services:
PRIVATE
Additional Information:
Gary was on the Relief Association Board from 1978 through 1988.
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Gary’s passing comes as a shock…and makes me sad. Gary was my next door neighbor for many years…growing up in Westchester. His dad was a fireman (George). They moved away when Gary was around 13 or 14. Gary, me, and his younger brother used to romp the beanfields that were adjacent to LAX and Playa Del Rey. They had a dog named “Max” that caught us rabbits. haha After not seeing him for almost 3o years…we connected again while in Batallion 15. My condolences to the family. “Ed” Sandell, Somis, Ca
Worked with Gary many a day at Fire Station 23. So sad to hear about his accident and now this.
RIP Gary, my condolences to the Kahlers
One of my favorite guys I worked with. Always ready to help. Quiet but a pleasure to talk with. Gary, you will be missed.
I only knew Gary from our “Retired Guys” breakfasts, both at Mimi’s in Thousand Oaks, and the “Firehouse Cafe”
in Simi, but heard about his accident, and called to see if a visit was possible, but got no answer.
RIP GARY
I am so sad to hear of Gary’s passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Sue and his family. Gary and I were water buddies at 94’s for several years. He was an excellent engineer. Gary was very innovative. He always had a plan and a better way of doing something. During the old Department softball leagues Gary would bring a generator and blender into the dugout for Margaritas. Gary started the old Brown Baggers softball team in the early 80’s. It gave a lot of great softball players an opportunity to play for the Department during the Fire Olympics. It competed for medals in the first couple years. Which doesn’t happen very often.
Gary was a great guy and will deeply be missed. Again, my thoughts and prayers to Sue and your family.
Gary and I worked together for many years at 94’s. He talked me into being his partner in his 24′ Coronado sail boat. We had some great adventures on that boat, sailing around the Channel Islands and off the cost around Ventura and Oxnard. On one trip Gary, Charlie Grube, and I stayed out way to late and waved to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter heading out as we came back into the harbor. We later found out the Cutter was headed out to sea to search for us!
Gary would arrange trips to conferences and training classes around the state and he always found a way to coordinate the fun nights out at as well. So many great memories with Gary and all of the adventures. I will miss my friend and will hold on to those memories. Rest in peace my friend.
My heartfelt condolences to the Kahler family.
Don Reyes
Worked with Gary at 34’s…still love his laugh. He made us ride his horses off duty so they wouldn’t get barn sour. Good man and good friend…my condolences to the Kahler family.
I was fortunate to work with Gary at 94’s. He was an engineer that you could count on. As Tom said he usually had some alternate method for doing things. ” What if” started many of his conversations.. I never had to worry about water, Gary Kahler, Rich Howe and Tommy Czubek , were all over it.
RIP to a good human.
Sad to hear of my friend Gary’s passing. As Tom Czubek said earlier Gary started the original Brown Baggers softball team. I was a member and during have many fond memories. The original Brown baggers where made up of guys that enjoyed playing and having fun. To mention a few where: Robert Pacheco, Tom Czubek, Myron Moss, Rob Jackson, Terry Manning, Jan Bernard, and many more, but as you can see we weren’t the big guns, but we had fun. Our first year playing we lost most of the time and never went past the first round, Then at our first olympic’s we ended up winning out bracket and almost medaled. Everyone was saying who are these guys. Where did they come from? Why is it then have a beer behind second base? They found out that Bob Pacheco and I put it there for incentive. Meaning if a ball was up the middle whoever got it got to the ball got the beer. Gary took it all in stride with us, and managed us through out it all. He was the a great guy and will be missed…Rest In Peace…