Amy Rae Kohler, daughter of Dennis and Barbara (Steele) Kohler, was born February 5, 1976. She passed away at age 48 on August 5, 2024, after a battle with cancer.
Amy was born and raised in North Platte. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1995 and later from Central Community College in Grand Island with a degree in child care.
Amy married Curtis Ledbetter and they moved to Omaha where she was employed by the Montessori Child Care Center for nearly 10 years. After she and Curtis divorced, Amy moved to Texarkana, AR, and went to work as Assistant Manager of Chico's Clothing Store. She returned to North Platte five years later and moved in with her brother, John, to help care for her nephews, Jacob, Kyle and Ryan. Amy then went on to work for Walgreens, Westfield Pharmacy, and the North Platte Public Schools as a para-educator for special needs children at Adams Middle School.
She had a big heart for children; she was strict but always fair and always had a candy treat ready for them. Amy especially loved working with babies and young children and she really enjoyed working with the teachers at Adams Middle School.
Amy collected Cherished Care Bears and was always kind and generous to others and loved her family. While working at Walgreens she donated her credit points to kids and other customers who needed them. She also looked forward to playing Keno with her mom and grandma, Frances Steele, on Saturdays.
Amy will be remembered for her love of children and as a people-person who enjoyed talking and being around almost everyone. Quoting her uncle Dan: "Amy was a beautiful girl with a beautiful soul that shone bright to all who were lucky enough to know her. Truly, the world was a happier place because she was in it."
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John Eldon and Frances Steele and William and Katherine Kohler; uncles, Don Steele, Bob Kohler, Kenneth Kohler and Richard Kohler; and aunt, Jeannette Kohler.
Amy is survived by her parents, Dennis and Barbara Kohler; brother, John Jacob Kohler; nephews, Jacob, Kyle and Ryan Kohler; aunts, Joyce Kohler, Jan Steele, Judy Steele and MaryAlice Nickel (Rodney); uncles, Dan Kohler (Teri), Jerry Kohler and Larry Steele (Sue); cousins, Brad Kohler, Scott Steele (Melissa), John Ray Steele (Sharon), Kurt Williams (Shaun), Bob Tuetken (Sherry) and Doug Kohler; as well as many other relatives.
She is also survived by her very special friend, Dave McKim, and his two daughters, Gretta and Nora; and the girls' grandparents, David and Mary McKim.
Celebration of Amy's life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Michael Evans officiating then she will be placed in the Peace Garden Columbarium at the church. The memorial book can be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Kids First Preschool.