Chester Perry Kocherhans

Chester Perry Kocherhans returned Home to our Father in Heaven on November 8, 2024. He was born on May 11, 1923, in Lovell, Wyoming, to William G. and Viola Perry Kocherhans. His family moved to Orem, Utah when he was just three months old. Chester spent the last three years of his life with his son, who provided him with loving care until his passing. 

Chester graduated from Lincoln High School in 1943. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and received specialty training in California before being deployed to Germany. He was a member of the Seventh Armored Division and completed many crucial missions that contributed to the end of the war, including operations near the shores of the Baltic, where they captured 113,000 German prisoners. 

After returning home, Chester attended Brigham Young University and began working as an engineer and surveyor for Orem City. Over the years, he advanced to become a supervisor over the water, sewer, and street departments, eventually serving as the division manager for the water department until his retirement in 1989. 

On December 22, 1960, he married Shirley L. Duffield of Salt Lake City, Utah. In October 1961, they welcomed their only child, Gregory P. Kocherhans, whom they affectionately called Skip. 

Chester was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in various callings. After taking out his endowments, he worked at the American Fork, Utah Temple. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, William G. and Viola Perry Kocherhans, as well as three brothers and five sisters: Olga Kocherhans; Glenn (Thelma) Kocherhans; Hilda Murphy; Lavor (Katheryn) Kocherhans; LaPriel (Lloyd) Louder; Ivan (Lorraine) Kocherhans; Marjorie Kocherhans and Maxine Kocherhans; 

Chester is survived by his son, Gregory P. Kocherhans (Skip); two grandsons, Gregory and Nathan; a great-granddaughter; and two great-grandsons. He also leaves behind two stepsons, Walter (Martha) Tulley of Mesquite, Texas; Roger (Pamela) Tulley of St. George, Utah; a stepdaughter, Sheryl (Mike) Simmons of Orem, Utah; seven step-grandsons; eight step­granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews. 

There will be a viewing from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, located at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, November 23, 2024, with a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. The service will commence at 11 :00 AM at the Orem 6th Ward Chapel, located at 590 North 900 West, Orem, Utah. 

A graveside dedication will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Camp Williams Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park, located at 17111 South Camp Williams Road, Bluffdale, Utah 84057.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page. 

For those unable to attend the services, they will streamed starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 23rd, via Facebook Live at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome