William "Bill" Eugene Koelsch, 96 years old, passed away on Saturday July 13, surrounded by loving family, following a brief battle with pneumonia. Up until just one month ago, he was thrivingly independent, doing yoga, cooking, and driving himself around to shop or attend live music. Health and healthy eating was not just a priority, but it was his daily joy in life…and the sharing of it with others.

One of his biggest passions (other than family) was music…especially jazz. From the '40s to the early '70s he was a professional musician playing alto and tenor sax, clarinet, flute and latin rhythm instruments for many jazz bands and shows throughout Oklahoma. He still enjoyed music and learning to play other instruments throughout the rest of his life and loved to talk about it with anyone.

He also loved nature and traveling, in particular to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Starting from the '70s, including six visits between 2013 and 2023, he made the trek there with family, hiking and enjoying the peaceful and refreshing simple joys of being outdoors.

Bill worked for a couple of steel fabrication companies for over 55+ years in Oklahoma City, calculating and detailing the structural plans for bridges all around the USA as a Chief Draftsman and then Project Engineer for Robberson Steel and Capitol Steel & Iron. He retired in 2013 at the age 84 however; even then, he was still sought after by a company in Florida that knew of him as "The Highway Man" for all his impressive skills and knowledge with bridge building. He loved his work and contributing his experience to anything he could, from maintaining cars to keeping up with the latest electronic technologies, including the very latest smart phones and tablets, even attending workshops at the local Apple store at age 96.

His departure was preceded by that of his wife, Alice Mary (Drees) Koelsch in 2006. Together they leave a legacy of loving family: children, Maria, Lisa, Roger, Gerald, and Bruce who was lost to us in 2013; nieces, Betty Rawdon, Delores Drees and her mother Beulah, and nephew, Edward Drees; six grandchildren: Aaron, David, Brian, Ashley, Kevin, and Jennifer; and nine great-grandchildren: Sydney, Caitlin, Kamdyn, Korbin, Rowan, Benjamin, Matthew, Anna, and Evie.

In the words of his grandson, David, "We are thankful for the great long life you were able to live and legacy you have created. May you rest in peace and enjoy the heavenly mountains."