July 25, 2022

Scott Koehler, beloved designer and industry persona, passed away over the weekend from pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Gwen, and his extended family, including his beloved grandsons.

A 28-year industry veteran and a licensed contractor, Scott was the founder of Dream Kitchen Builders, a design/build firm in Moore County, N.C. He was active with the National Kitchen & Bath Association and earned his Certified Kitchen Designer accreditation, as well as the National Association of Home Builders.

Scott Koehler was an asset to Kitchen & Bath Business as an esteemed member of our Editorial Advisory Board and as an avid writer for our publication. In 2020, he was chosen as a Praiseworthy Pick for our 2020 Person of the Year competition. We also featured one of his dream kitchen projects, which included a marble tub so heavy that it had to have a special cradle designed for it to move the pieces into place.

Our May/June 2022 issue of the magazine included Scott as the focus of our Last Word column, where we interview a go-getter in the industry. He shared with us that he chose to run his business via a smart phone versus a computer several years ago, because it was more advantageous even back then.

A quote from him in the above-mentioned article described Scott perfectly: “In business, design and life, I believe it is important to always be thinking and evolving.” He definitely stayed true to that mantra, and we will miss him dearly.

Editor’s Note – additional info from NKBA.org:

In addition to his wife, Koehler is survived by his son, Jeffrey Scott Koehler and wife Claire; daughter, Laura Gwen Martin and fiancé Joseph Rosario; grandsons Finn Martin and Luke Koehler; his father Lawrence Robert Koehler and stepmother Jean; brothers Timothy Koehler and wife Sonya, Mark Koehler and wife Sveta; sister Mary Pat Whaley and husband Bob; stepbrother Alan Mierke and wife Linda; as well as a large extended family. He was predeceased by his mother, Patricia Murphy Koehler.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network through its website at PanCAN.org.