Ronald Mark Kohan

A resident of Sedona since 1988, Ron passed away on August 27, 2015 at the age of 64. He was born May 23, 1951 to David Michael Kohan and Audrey Marian Gurss Kohan in Youngstown, Ohio. He moved to New Castle, Pennsylvania with his family in 1952. Ron attended Walmo Elementary and Neshannock High. He was captain of the football team and all-conference running back before graduating in 1969. Ron also played basketball and ran track while in high school. Ron graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1973, a Delta Kai Fraternity member, with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing. After graduation, Ron moved to Florida and worked in real estate. He married Debbie in 1983 in Albuquerque, NM. Their combined interests led them to travel and explore the USA. In 1986, they moved to California where Ron was the manager of an animal rescue society.
They found Sedona, Arizona and decided it would be the place for them to raise their family. In Sedona, Ron was an active member of the community, attended Wayside Bible Chapel, served on the school board, and coached football. Ron was a business entrepreneur involved in land development and most recently a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker. He was involved with Promise Keepers.
Ron was instrumental in starting Young Life in Sedona and served as the committee chair for 10 years. Young Life is a mission to spread the good news of Jesus to teenagers. Ron was passionate about taking teenagers from Sedona and the Verde Valley to camp at Lost Canyon and in Southern California. He used Young Life as a tool to spread the love of Christ to his community.
He was known for following his Messiah, loving people well, caring for people deeply, living life to the fullest, and making everyone laugh. An avid football fan, he loved celebrating Christmas and buying shoes. He enjoyed the outdoors, played golf regularly, and loved competing with his siblings in all sports. His personality was larger than life.
Ron deeply cherished his family, both that which God gave him at birth and that which God gave him through marriage. He is survived by his beloved wife of 32 years, Debbie Tibbets Kohan, his two children; Gabriel Michael and Marissa Nell Kohan; his four siblings and their spouses: Jeff and Eileen Kohan, Michele and Alan Spatz, Rick and Coni Kohan, Jay and Liza Kohan, and 29 nieces and nephews from both the Kohan and Tibbets families. Ron was loved by the Tibbets family: Jud and Nell Tibbets, Eric and Mitzie Tibbets, Ellen and Tab Gray, and Brenda Tibbets Savage.
Ron was preceded in death by his father, David, in 1971 and mother, Audrey, in 2009.
A celebration of Ron's life will be held Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 2 PM at Wayside Chapel, 401 N. State Route 89A, Sedona. In honor of Ron and in lieu of flowers, should friends desire, donations may be made to Young Life Sedona and the Verde Valley AZ157 www.giving.younglife.org or PO Box 372, Sedona, AZ 86339.