Herb Kohler, executive chairman of Kohler Co., died on Sept. 3 at age 83.
His bold ideas and hands-on leadership transformed the plumbing products manufacturer founded by his grandfather into a global and diverse family of businesses synonymous with unmatched quality, creativity, and bold innovation. Kohler’s personal mission was to create delight. For him, there was no halfway. To warrant the “KOHLER” nameplate, a product had to be more than durable, functional, and attractive. It had to be joyful and memorable.
“His zest for life, adventure and impact inspires all of us. We traveled together, celebrated together, and worked together. He was all in, all the time, leaving an indelible mark on how we live our lives today and carry on his legacy,” said his family.
“If I sell you a bathtub, there has to be something about it that gives you pleasure not only at the time of the transaction. Years later, we want you to think this is one of the best buys of your life,” Kohler once said in an interview. “The same applies with everything we provide — an engine, generator, toilet, table, hotel room, spa service, golf course, you name it. If you think about it five years later and, inwardly or outwardly, it makes you smile and we can do this consistently, then we’re living up to our mission.”
Kohler was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on Feb. 20, 1939. His father Herbert V. Kohler, Sr., son of Kohler Co. founder John Michael Kohler, served as board chairman and CEO of Kohler Co. from 1940 until his death in 1968. His mother Ruth De Young Kohler was a historian and former women’s editor of the Chicago Tribune.
Kohler was educated at schools in Kohler, Wisconsin, and at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut. As a young man, he spent many summers as a laborer on the Kohler farms and in most of the manufacturing divisions of Kohler Co. After serving with the U.S. Army Reserve, studying at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and launching a brief acting career at Knox College in Illinois, he completed his education at Yale University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in industrial administration in 1965.
He rejoined Kohler Co. full time as an R&D technician shortly after graduation. He became a director of the company in 1967, and when his father died a year later, he became vice president of operations. He was named executive vice president in 1971, was elected chairman of the board and CEO in 1972, and president of the company in 1974 at the age of 35. In 2015, he became the company’s executive chairman with son David taking the helm as president and CEO.
When Kohler took the reins of the company, it had 5,000 associates who made plumbing products, engines, and generators primarily for North American customers. Today, Kohler Co. makes products used on seven continents, has more than 60 manufacturing sites, employs a global workforce of more than 40,000 associates, and has more than 35 brands.
Kohler’s influence went beyond the plumbing world, as he worked diligently to be a positive influence in his community and was an ardent supporter of the arts, the environment and historic preservation. For example, working closely with his sister Ruth and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, he helped establish an innovative arts/industry residency program that invites artists into the Kohler factories to work alongside production associates turning out stunning works of handcrafted sculptures of art made from plumbing product materials, such as vitreous china, cast iron and brass. To date, more than 500 artists have participated in this unique residency that intersects art and manufacturing.
Kohler is survived by his wife, Natalie; two daughters, Laura Kohler (Steve Proudman), and Rachel Kohler (Mark Hoplamazian); and one son, David Kohler (Nina). He is further survived by 10 grandchildren, Ashley, Lily, Hannah, Mara, Sam, Lena, Jack, Rachel, Tait and Leo and three great grandchildren, Ophelia, Herbert, and Uma.
Visit celebrateherbkohler.com.
