Frederick Carl Eschler

Frederick Carl Eschler, 69, of Coquille, passed away in the early morning hours of Thursday, January 25, due to heart failure.

Fred was born in San Francisco, California on September 18, 1948, the son of Mildred Roberts Eschler and Carl George Eschler. Although he grew up in Daly City, a suburb of San Francisco, he felt more at home in Preston, Idaho, where he spent his high school summers working at the ranch of his Uncle Dan and Aunt Ellen.

After High School, Fred joined the Air Force in 1968, spending most of his military career in Thailand, and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Fred married Laura Rene Taylor on October 5, 1974, in the Oakland Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they lived in Daly City. Fred worked for the Post Office while working on a teaching degree at San Francisco State University.

In 1980, the couple and their first four daughters moved to Coquille and Fred accepted a position teaching 6th graders at Sumner Elementary School. He also coached football, basketball, and wrestling. Fred loved teaching, and especially teaching 6th graders. After Sumner closed, he continued teaching for over thirty years at various middle and elementary schools in Coos Bay, impacting many young lives.

Fred loved his family and his church. He enjoyed going fishing or crabbing with his children and his friends and game nights with his family. He served briefly on the Coquille School Board as well as on the Board of Directors for the Coos Educators Credit Union, and had served faithfully in many church responsibilities. His many friends will remember him for his quick wit and sarcasm. He was always ready with a laugh or a joke and was never afraid to speak his mind.

Frederick was preceded in death by both of his parents and his youngest daughter, Elizabeth Eschler. He is survived by his wife, Laura Taylor Eschler; his sisters, Kathleen (Phillip) LaCombe and Sandra (Joseph) Nazzaro; his children, Kathleen (Bret) Gundersen, Rebecca Russell, Esther (Travis) Wolfe, Jennifer (Daniel) White, Carl Eschler, Albert (Joanna) Eschler, and Edwin Eschler, as well as twenty-two wonderful grandchildren and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Friday, Feb. 2, from 6:00-8:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb 3, from 10:00 -10:45 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) building 2405 Shelley Road, Coquille. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 3rd. Burial will be at the Norway Cemetery.

Arrangements under the direction of Nelson’s Bay Area Mortuary, 405 Elrod Ave., Coos Bay, 541-267-4216.