John Phillip Kohlhaas, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away on April 17th, 2020, at the age of 68.

John was born on August 5th, 1951, in Arlington, Virginia. He is the son of George and Roberta Kohlhaas and one of eight children. During the Vietnam War, John answered his nation’s call to service and served in the United States Air Force for four years.

After completing his patriotic duty, John married the love of his life Joanne on December 10th, 1977. Together, they raised five children, Kevin, Kim, Kenny, Kaitlyn, and John.

John’s Catholic faith sustained him, and he leaves behind this legacy of faith to his family. He was a member of St. Andrew the Apostle parish. As the spiritual head of his family, John led them in daily prayer and the rosary.

Through the family’s grief, they reflect on the blessings of knowing and loving John. To know John was to know kindness, sincerity and selflessness. His family and friends remember John as a man who was always quick to listen and slow to speak. As a faithful and loving husband and father, he taught his sons and daughters what it means to be a man of God.

As he was a servant of God, John’s life was also defined by service to his family. There is nothing John would not sacrifice to provide his family with the best life possible. He knew, and his family saw through him, that with sacrifice there is love – and with love there is salvation.

John treasured the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. Whether it was working on his cars with his sons, taking his grandchildren to fish at the lake or the annual rides in his Jeep on the beach at the Outer Banks, John always looked forward to making memories together. And he would always be sure to put smiles on their faces with plenty of “dad” jokes.

Above all else – through his selflessness, his intentional love, and the strong example he set for his family – he fulfilled the sacred role of a father in bringing his family closer to heaven. This is the legacy he leaves behind and one that his children will pass on to future generations of the Kohlhaas family.

John Kohlhaas is survived by his wife of 42 years, Joanne, five children, and eleven grandchildren: Augustine, Isabella, Olivia, Sofia, Annelise, Daniel, Cecilia, Gabriel, Vincent, Gwendolyn and baby Kohlhaas.
He is also survived by his beloved siblings: George Jr., Christine, Linda, Robert and James, and is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rose Marie, and his brother Thomas.

While his family continues to mourn his loss, they do not grieve without hope. His devotion to God is a comfort to his family and loved ones, and they ask for your continued prayers for his soul to reach a perfect union with God. “Eternal rest grant unto him Oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.” May he rest in the eternal peace and joy which we all seek.

The Kohlhaas Family

Due to the unprecedented restrictions of COVID-19, we regret that we must limit the number of those participating in his funeral service to his immediate family. However, we invite you to join us for Mass via live stream at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 24th, 2020. The link is:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUc7bg8DdOScYQk19YJYkWA

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-a cause near and dear to John’s heart. To make a donation, please click the "Place A Donation" button on the left side of the page. If there is a need to send flowers, the family requests that they be sent to the home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Phillip Kohlhaas, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.