Bill Kiene semi-retired
02-27-2017, 02:12 PM
92 of Grass Valley, CA. passed away peacefully at Sierra Nevada Hospital January 25, 2017.
He was born May 20, 1924 in New York City. He attended Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale
CA. Kohn completed one year of college at Glendale Junior College before he enlisted in the US
Army in 1944. He completed cadet training and flight school rising to the level of 1 st Lieutenant.
He was stationed in Burma and China during WW II. He was tasked with attacking enemy air
bases and destroying Japanese supply trains bringing arms and ammunition to the Japanese
front lines. He served with the 426 th Night Fighter Squadron as a night fighter pilot. Engaging
the enemy under the cover of darkness with the first 2 engine planes made with radar for flying
at night.
After his service, he attended and graduated from Glendale College with a degree in
Engineering. He went on to become an aircraft designer with Northrup Grumann from 1950 –
1975 in Southern California. In the later years of his career he also worked 2 years overseas in
Saudi Arabia designing oil refineries. In 1975 he retired and moved to Grass Valley.
He enjoyed travelling and photographing his trips around the World. Documenting them with
an extensive slide collection that would rival National Geographic. He was a lifelong hunter and
avid fly fisherman. He made annual fishing trips every year during his retirement. He especially
liked catching trout in New Zealand and going to the Amazon River in Brazil to fly fish for giant
Peacock Bass. Don also enjoyed investing in the stock market and following sports.
Kohn was a bachelor, and is survived by his 3 nephews David Yester, Craig Yester, Eric Yester
and niece Alyson Shelton. Also many beloved friends, neighbors and fishing buddies.
Service will be held on Tuesday March 7 th , 2017, 1;00 pm at the Sacramento Valley
Natioanal Cemetary, located at 5810 Midway Rd. Dixon, CA .
Special thanks to Mellisa Brown Bidermann and the staff at Eskaton Village Grass Valley
Assisted Living for their skilled and compassionate care of Don for the last 2 ½ years, where he
will be dearly missed.
He was born May 20, 1924 in New York City. He attended Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale
CA. Kohn completed one year of college at Glendale Junior College before he enlisted in the US
Army in 1944. He completed cadet training and flight school rising to the level of 1 st Lieutenant.
He was stationed in Burma and China during WW II. He was tasked with attacking enemy air
bases and destroying Japanese supply trains bringing arms and ammunition to the Japanese
front lines. He served with the 426 th Night Fighter Squadron as a night fighter pilot. Engaging
the enemy under the cover of darkness with the first 2 engine planes made with radar for flying
at night.
After his service, he attended and graduated from Glendale College with a degree in
Engineering. He went on to become an aircraft designer with Northrup Grumann from 1950 –
1975 in Southern California. In the later years of his career he also worked 2 years overseas in
Saudi Arabia designing oil refineries. In 1975 he retired and moved to Grass Valley.
He enjoyed travelling and photographing his trips around the World. Documenting them with
an extensive slide collection that would rival National Geographic. He was a lifelong hunter and
avid fly fisherman. He made annual fishing trips every year during his retirement. He especially
liked catching trout in New Zealand and going to the Amazon River in Brazil to fly fish for giant
Peacock Bass. Don also enjoyed investing in the stock market and following sports.
Kohn was a bachelor, and is survived by his 3 nephews David Yester, Craig Yester, Eric Yester
and niece Alyson Shelton. Also many beloved friends, neighbors and fishing buddies.
Service will be held on Tuesday March 7 th , 2017, 1;00 pm at the Sacramento Valley
Natioanal Cemetary, located at 5810 Midway Rd. Dixon, CA .
Special thanks to Mellisa Brown Bidermann and the staff at Eskaton Village Grass Valley
Assisted Living for their skilled and compassionate care of Don for the last 2 ½ years, where he
will be dearly missed.