Alan B. Kohtz, age 74, passed away at his home in Ft. Garland, Colorado, on June 2, 2025.

Born March 12, 1951 in Aurora, Nebraska, Al was the oldest of five children born to Berdean and Agnes (Oberg) Kohtz. His first home was on a farm north of Hampton, Nebraska. From there the family moved to Central City, Nebraska, where Berdean farmed for a short time. Not long after that, the family moved back to Hampton where they lived just a block south of Hampton High School. 

Al attended St. Peter’s Lutheran Grade school in Hampton through the eighth grade. He graduated from Hampton High School in 1969. While in high school, Al participated in 8 man football, basketball, and track throwing the shot and discus. One of his favorite memories was playing baseball for the Aurora American Legion baseball team in 1969. He was a first baseman for the team, and that season they won the Nebraska State American Junior Legion Baseball Class B championship in Broken Bow, NE, an accomplishment of which he was very proud. Also during high school and summer vacation, Al worked for his dad at the Hampton Cooperative Elevator Company. This experience would have an important impact on his future career.

After graduating high school, Al attended Kearney State College (now UNK). He was a three year starting offensive guard for the Lopers. His senior year he was elected as one of three captains for the squad. It was also while at Kearney State, he met his future wife, Bridget Imming. They were married on December 14, 1974. This marriage resulted in the birth of his four children Matt, Meghan, Patrick and Shane, all of whom Al was extremely proud.

Following his graduation from college, Al began his professional career as a management trainee for Land-O-Lakes. He trained on site at a local coop in Virginia, Nebraska. After less than a year he accepted his first general manager position in Harbine, Nebraska, while he and Bridget made their home in Beatrice. Two years later it was on to Exeter, Nebraska, where he again was general manager for the local cooperative marketing grain, fertilizer, livestock feed and petroleum products. It was while in Exeter all four Kohtz kids were born at the hospital in York. It was also there Al converted to Catholicism as he felt it important for the family to share the same religion. After 13 years in Exeter the family headed to Gowrie, Iowa, where he accepted the position of General Manager and CEO for the Consolidated Cooperative/Midstate’s Energy. He was there until 1994 when accepted the General Manager/CEO position with AgMax Inc. in Frankfort, Indiana, which was a farm supply/grain marketing cooperative and at the time was considered the largest in Indiana. In 2000 Al decided it was time to try his hand at his own business, so it was then he started his own company, KoSource Inc. He offered human resources and business consulting services to agricultural companies spanning seven states. During this period, Al earned his SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certification from the Society of Human Resources (SHRM). He was proud of this accomplishment, and thought it brought value to his business. KoSource grew and was successful until his retirement in 2018.

While Al had a very successful career in the agriculture business, he was a man who simply loved the outdoors. He enjoyed gardening, landscaping and building, tinkering with many projects.  He also loved snow skiing, golfing, fishing and camping. His favorite fishing spots were along the Conejos and Arkansas Rivers in Colorado. The Kohtz family started building their Colorado cabin in 2015, and it was truly a family build. Once completed Al always looked forward to many visits from family and friends and was always a gracious host. Bridget and Al also enjoyed their home in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they hosted many gatherings for family and friends for the Indy 500, an event for which Al had much passion. While all of this was very important to him, he was most proud of his wife, their children and grandchildren and all of the extended Kohtz family. It was their happiness and love to which he dedicated his life. He was as genuine as they come, and he will be greatly missed by all who were lucky to know him. 

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bridget; his children and grandchildren, Matt Kohtz of Ft. Garland, CO, Meghan Kohtz of Chicago, IL, Dr. Patrick (Hollon) Kohtz and their children Calhoun and Lillian of Macon, GA, Lt. Col. Shane (Alison) Kohtz and their children Aedan, Wyatt and Olivia of Huntsville, AL. His sisters Susan (Dan) Heiden of Hampton, NE, Cathy (Roger) Nelson of Genoa, NE. His brothers Bob Kohtz of Sutton, NE, and John (Barb) Kohtz of Hampton, NE. Also surviving are brother and sisters-in-law Candi Imming, Kate Castrop, Dave Imming, and Stacy (Bob) Sykes and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law Bob and Pat Imming, and sister-in-law Linda Kohtz.

A celebration of Al’s life will be Friday, June 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Hampton City Auditorium, 127 B Street, Hampton, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations for the family to designate at a later time.