And We Fade to Black:
Vince Koehler, 1939-2005
by Ken Keller

Vince's funeral was the largest I've ever attended. It was a revelation. Many hundreds turned out for both the funeral home visitation and his funeral Mass— a testimony to just how beloved Vince was by all those that had known him over the decades.

Although "officially" a Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society member only since 2001, Vince had actually been very involved with KaCSFFS for more than two decades. During that lengthy era, Vince always provided the club with many 16 mm films and the projectors need to show them, all from his large, personal film library. Vince loved the movies more than anyone I've every known— simply loved them! And that's saying a lot. We always showed his films at our free annual July movie festivals and even at the club's big 25th anniversary celebration in 1996. Vince loved KaCSFFS, and we were always beneficiaries of his many kindnesses.

Also during those years, Vince provided ConQuesT (the annual KaCSFFS regional science fiction convention) and its members with literally thousands of Hollywood promotional film items: posters, buttons, T-shirts, caps, keychains— you name it. If the Hollywood promotional machine produced it, he got it for us, seemingly by the ton. He always managed to "work the system" and never failed to arrange for cartons and cartons (and even more cartons!) of promo stuff from all the major studios. As a result, for many years, ConQuesT, was the envy of all the other science fiction conventions in our region for the sheer variety and quantity of free giveaways provided each year. To the very last, while very sick, he continued to arrange for and get in various new film promo items for ConQuesT— one final legacy of his long devotion to the club.

For a decade, beginning in the mid-90s, Vince and I co-hosted many dozens of free KaCSFFS "Film Cadets" preview movie screenings at various cineplexes around the KC Metro area. Not only for us but for our families and friends as well. I've lost count, now, on the number of free films we viewed thanks to him. It was Vince who arranged for the largest majority of those free screening passes, sometimes in quantities that truly astonished me. He always came through for us, always with an eye toward the next up-coming advance promo screening. But his most impressive "score" was in 1996 for the club's 25th Anniversary year when he actually acquired a total of three dozen free $20.00 tickets to the Heartland Theater's production of the British stage musical "Return to the Forbidden Planet." That was a KaCSFFS evening to remember, thanks to Vince's hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

At the club's 30th Anniversary banquet in 2001, I had the honor (as Director of the club at that time) of presenting him with a special award for his long service to KaCSFFS. It was then that toastmaster Robin Bailey and I made him an official member of science fiction fandom— and hence "officially" one of us at long last— when we crowned him with a club propeller beanie. He was very surprised and a bit embarrassed by it all. But Vince later told me in private that our plaque meant more to him than all the awards he'd received from his employer (and others) over the years, most of which just sat around in drawers at home. That special KaCSFFS service award is still proudly displayed on a wall in the Koehler's family room where he spent his final days.

Thanks, Vince, for all the great times, the wonderful memories, and for your enduring friendship to us all. God speed, Vince, God speed.

The story ends, the credits roll, and the final curtain comes down.

A Memorial by Ken Bussanmas
Vice President, Kansas City Film Critics Circle

I was privileged enough to have known Vince for around 25 years or so. In addition to his love of film, Vince was a die-hard fan of science fiction, fantasy, super-hero and horror genre films. We often attended the same science fiction or comics conventions and Vince was always generous with his time. Using his contacts within the industry, Vince was always willing to help get something extra for the fans, be it a rare, unseen bit of behind the scenes footage, promotional posters and whatnot to give away to the fans or even running an entire film program using his own collection.

Vince lived his life with a passion for film and, unlike so many of us, never seemed to feel like he needed to apologize for the joy he found in his pursuits. There was no such thing as a "guilty pleasure" for Vince; he took pride in the things he enjoyed and delighted in sharing those passions with others.

Vince took his passion for film and entertainment to television where he hosted and produced the cable series, Entertainment Spectrum. It was there that Vince got to explore other interests in the world of entertainment, including theater, music, comics and more. When the cable operation decided to turn its attention to an all-sports format, Vince and Entertainment Spectrum found a new home in the Johnson County Gazette and on the internet, in the form of the Entertainment Spectrum website. Now a written column, Vince continued Entertainment Spectrum until his death. Vince's legacy lives on in that paper; his wife, Marieann, has taken over the column and one of his sons is currently running the website. It appears that Entertainment Spectrum will be running for some years to come in some form or another.

I believe that it was Vince's love for film that helped make his final days inspiring to everyone that knew him. As Vince underwent numerous chemotherapy treatments he would do his level best to show up at every film screening he possibly could, usually with Marieann at his side. Vince almost always looked like he was in better spirits and a better mood than most of the rest of the Kansas City press gang. Seeing Vince at those screenings helped put many of our own personal issues into greater perspective; if Vince could be there and be in high spirits after a round of chemo, then we had all better take a serious look at anything we were about to complain about.

Vince was also a member of the KCFCC's Governing Board, as if everything else he had going on wasn't enough. Vince was a calming influence, a voice of reason that could state the obvious without offending either side in a conflict, no small feat when dealing with a group of film critics who can be contentious at the best of times.

It should be obvious by now to anyone reading this who didn't have the honor of meeting Vince that the man left a lasting impression on this organization and the people in it.