Obituary of John Dennis Koelbel

John D. Koelbel, 72, died on March 1, 2017 at his home with his wife Carol by his bedside. John was born to Mary J. and John A. Koelbel on May 11, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland. John remained in Maryland until his retirement and moved to St. Maries in 2005. He started his military training in 1968 -1971 in the 6th & 8th SFG (Special Forces Group). It was during this time period that John got his pilot’s license, solo through commercial, at France Field, Canal Zone. He continued in 1972 in civilian life obtaining his instrument & instructor’s certificate and in 1973 became an instructor for the USNA. In the mid ‘70s he flew corporate pilot for Black & Decker & Alban Caterpillar Tractor. He used his military training benefit to attend UAL flight training program for B737 pilot & B727 Flight Engineer only to be told upon completion that at age 30, he was too old to be hired by United and he was also the wrong sex! It was at this point that he realized his dreams of a flying career were not to be. John married Carol McKinney on December 23, 1983 in the Florida Keys. He then turned to the real estate market, got his broker license, and became aware of a new and different approach to selling real estate that had many advantages over conventional listings and that was by auction. Up until then, auctions were mainly used for foreclosure or court ordered sales. John was at the forefront of a marketing change that revolutionized home sales in the east. After attending auctioneering school in Mason City, Iowa, he started his own company, Auction Specialists, in Baltimore, MD. In the 20 years that followed, he sold over 950 pieces of real estate as well as conducting estate sales and corporate liquidations in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, & Florida. At the end of this period, one in four homes were being sold by auction in the mid-Atlantic area. He joined the MD Nat’l Guard, 20th SFG, in 1988, and then in 2000 transferred to South Pacific Command, Hawaii, till his mandatory retirement as W-3 in 2006. Getting back part time in the military at age 45, was a challenge he couldn’t resist. There were few 20 year olds that could out run him. When he moved to St. Maries, he was still running 5 miles a days at age 60. He is a member of Lloyd G. McCarter, American Legion Post No. 25, St. Maries. Even though he was “too old” at age 30 and unable to put his flight training to profitable use, John always maintained his love of flying. He was an avid pilot who flew his WWII T-6 airplane solo from Maryland to its new home in Idaho in 2005. As a member of the Commemorative Air Force, he participated in many air shows, military & civilian, throughout the US. He will always be remembered at the St. Maries Airport for his old, noisy, yellow airplane. John was a long standing member of Tuscan Masonic Lodge in Maryland. He continued his Masonic fellowship when he moved to St. Maries and is also a member of the Calam Shriners and the St. Maries Shrine Club. He is survived by his wife Carol, his sister Kathleen Armstrong, and 5 nieces & nephews. His brother, Rodney preceded him. A funeral service will be Saturday March 11, 2017 at 11:00 am at Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries, ID. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery following services with Military Rites by American Legion Post 25. A gathering of family and friends to share a meal will follow at the Masonic Temple in St. Maries, ID.