Dr. Paul "Buck" Kohler, age 94, of Brookings, died Monday, February 6, 2017, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview. Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 10, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings with interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be 5-7 P.M. Thursday at Eidsness Funeral Home.

Paul Kohler was born on August 28, 1922, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, the son of John and Lula (Bopes) Kohler.

Paul was a graduate of the Redwood Falls High School in 1940. He continued his education at South Dakota State College from 1941 to 1942 and 1946 until 1950. He earned his B.S. degree in Animal Science and Wildlife Management in 1949 and a Master's degree in Animal Nutrition and Biochemistry in 1950. For his Master's thesis he published data on a nutrition study with wild pronghorns compared to sheep. From 1942 until 1946, he served in the United States Navy. He was united in marriage to Phyllis R. Carr in 1950. Paul was associated with South Dakota State College from 1950 until 1985. He was professor of Animal Science and taught courses in Livestock Judging, Horse Production, Equitation and Livestock Management and Evaluation. He also did research in the field of entomology and horse nutrition. Paul and a colleague were the first to publish the technique of "pour on" to treat cattle for parasites. He earned a PhD degree at the University of Minnesota in 1959.

Along with teaching and research, Paul conducted many clinics on livestock evaluation. He judged many fairs and 4-H contests. In 1966, he judged livestock at eight State Fairs. He judged cattle, swine, sheep and horses at Fairs. His livestock Judging Team won first place at the International Livestock Show in Chicago in 1962.

Paul won many teaching awards and was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, the honorary society of agriculture. He is listed in the judging team hall of fame at South Dakota State University.

After his retirement in 1985, he became active in shooting baskets, and in 2003, was voted the outstanding athlete in South Dakota over 80 years old for shooting 22 of 25 free throws and 20 of 25 field goals at the State Senior finals. Paul and Phyllis enjoyed wintering in Casa Grande, AZ for 22 years.

Paul is survived by his wife Phyllis Kohler of Brookings, SD; his children James (Mary) Kohler of Brookings, Nancy Kay (Thomas) Stubbs of Houston, MO, Paul, Jr. (Cleo) Kohler of Spearfish, SD, Charles (Joan) Carr of Pierre, SD, Thomas Robert Kohler of Tempe, AZ; 11 Grandchildren; 12 Great-Grandchildren; and one sister Sally (James) Dording of Redwood Falls, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers Jack and James. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Kohler Gee Foundation, or to a charity of your choice.