Bryan W. Poehler

Bryan W. Poehler of Highland, Illinois, passed into the presence of Jesus on Saturday, September 14 ^th , 2024.  He loved the Lord and was a beloved member of Highland Community Church in Highland, IL.

Born to Garland W. and MaryAnn Bryan Poehler on October 26, 1947, in Effingham, Illinois.  As a son of a USAF Col., he grew up near bases around the US and spent 4 years in occupied Japan as a child.  After graduating High School in Enon, Ohio, he gained his undergraduate degree in History at Ohio University and his Law degree from Northwestern School of Law in Chicago in 1972.  He spent 4 years as an Air Force JAG attorney, stationed at Nellis AFB, and later practiced with the Clark County Prosecutor’s office in Las Vegas.

As a young man Bryan enjoyed snow camping and hiking in the mountains, sailing, and flying single engine planes and gliders.  At 50, he learned to play the banjo for his own enjoyment.

On Memorial Day 1976, Bryan was paralyzed in a dune buggy accident.  During his rehabilitation, he read his Bible through several times, changing his views of who God is, and finding faith in a full relationship with Jesus.  This faith has continued and grown over the rest of his life.

In 1984, he married Wilda Irene Hatch in Vancouver, Washington.  They enjoyed canoeing the mountain lakes in Washington and Oregon, following INDYCAR and Formula 1 racing, and traveling to Alaska, Australia, New England, Washington DC, and national parks and monuments.  Bryan particularly enjoyed Civil War sites and military air museums and was always pursuing his love of history.

Bryan served in leadership positions for the Church of God movement (Anderson, Indiana) on local, state and national levels for many years, finishing with his time on the national Church of God Ministries Council ending in 2004.

Bryan is survived by his wife, Wilda, his mother, Mary Ann, 100, of Louisville, IL, brother Tom and his wife Dorothea, niece, Hannah, and mother-in-law, Theresa Hatch of Highland, IL.  He loved his extended family of niece Alicia Martin, nephews Kevin and Tim Fisher, Uncle Bill Bryan, and 15 beloved Bryan cousins.

Bryan was preceded in death by his father Col. Garland W. Poehler and sister Gloria Fisher.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Highland Community Church, 2307 Broadway, Highland, IL 62249.

Bryan’s family encourages memorial contributions in his memory to Highland Community Church for the purpose of “Families in Need”.

Bryan will be interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.