Eric Kobler

Eric Robert Kobler, 59, slipped away from us on December 14, 2012 after a one year battle with brain cancer (GBM).
He was born to William C Kobler and Ruth C (Hansen) Kobler in Chicago on February 21, 1953 and grew up in Villa Park IL. He was the youngest of 3 boys. His mother passed away when he was 12 years old and he mourned her loss his entire life.
After attending the University of Illinois for one year, Eric apprenticed with IBEW Local 701 out of DuPage County IL and became a commercial/industrial electrician. He remained an electrician until his retirement. He loved what he did and was very proud of his work.
Eric and Joellyn (Jo) Borg were married in 1989 in Hinsdale IL. They quickly discovered that between the two of them, they could do just about anything and started buying and rehabbing homes. They loved making old things beautiful again. They loved old wood (especially quartersawn oak), old homes, antiques and everything handmade, including pottery, stained glass, furniture and quilts.
Eric was an excellent electrician, woodworker and rehabber. There wasn't anything he could not do. He loved seeing the finished products of his hard work and made much of their furniture and furnishings.
In 1997, Eric and Jo moved to Madison WI and rehabbed another home on Cherokee Lake. Jo started her restoration & stained glass business there and Eric was a huge help to her.
Eric was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmothers Lois and Joan Kobler, his brother, Tom (Dory) Kobler in 2010 and sister in law Susan Borg Foster in 1991.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Jo, his brother Dr Bill (Carolyn) Kobler of Rockford IL, sister in law Dory Kobler of Eden Prairie MN and brother in law Brian (Caren Christensen) Borg of Clinton WI. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and their children, as well as his two "cat kids" Charlie and Toji.
A huge thank you to Dr Laura Zakowski and to the staff at Sienna Crest in Marshall who helped us manage this journey with grace and strength.
Memorials in Eric's name can be made to The Dane County Humane Society or The Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin.
There will be a memorial service for Eric on Saturday, January 26 at 11:30 am at Cress Funeral Home, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am prior to the service.