Cheers goes to Pamela Kohl

Pamela Kohl volunteers primarily as a driver, delivering Meals On Wheels for the Whitefish Community Center, home of the Golden Agers.

Born in Washington, her parents, John and Phyllis Robinson, moved to Whitefish when she was a child. When asked about Whitefish she responds, “Oh boy! I really love my hometown. I really loved it as a kid.”

She has fond memories of growing up: Girl Scouts, 4H Club, riding her horse to “Tom’s store,” located where the Community Center now stands, tying her horse to the hitching post in front of the store, and looking forward to the treat that Tom always gave her. She recalls with pleasure the regular trips she made with her dad fishing on the lake and the days she spent swimming in its icy cold waters.

Shortly after graduation from Whitefish High she married Phil, her high school sweetheart. They have one son, Daniel. The marriage was not destined to last and Pamela has held a variety of jobs, 20 years of driving school bus, two years driving ground support for firefighters, driving vans carrying crews for BNSF Railway, driving charter busses to Canada, and driving for Rockwell in California.

For a change of pace, she cooked at the Cadillac Hotel and the Downtowner Café, and worked at the extended care facility of North Valley Hospital. She also put in a five year stint with Lowes in Kalispell.

An accident at work has limited her ability to work and play. She was forced to give up skiing but still enjoys snowshoeing, hiking and helping others. Although she doesn’t golf, she would love to learn. She enjoys painting and gave of her time and expertise to teach art classes for mental health programs, and looks forward to painting a mural for a local church.

Pamela particularly enjoys her work at the all-volunteer Community Center, where she not only delivers meals, but works in the kitchen and “does whatever else that needs to be done.” Co-workers and patrons alike become as family to her and she states that she “gets more than she gives” from this association.

Pamela, the time you give to others provides immeasurable security, sustenance, pleasure and general wellbeing to our communities shut-ins. For many of them, you are their contact with the outside world, and we thank you.

— Jake Heckathorn