Lynfred Winery Founder Passes Away

Image c/o Lynfred Winery

Fred Koehler, the founder of Lynfred Winery in Roselle, passed away yesterday after a six-month struggle with cancer. Mr. Koehler was 83.

Mr. Koehler, who always had a passion for wine and was a home winemaker, founded Lynfred Winery in 1979 with his late wife Lyn in their home (which is a Roselle historical landmark), and turned it into the state's largest and oldest continuing operating winery, setting the foundation for Illinois' nascent wine industry.

Lynfred Marketing Director Christina Anderson-Heller said plans are in the works for a memorial to Mr. Koehler and a "Pop the Cork for Fred" tribute. We'll pass along those details as soon as they're finalized. He is survived by his wife Valerie, daughter Diane, a granddaugter Katura.

For more information on Lynfred Winery, please read Carrie Becker's "Get to Know Your Local Wine Guy" interview with Mr. Koehler and my 2009 visit to Lynfred (Part 1, Part 2).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@chicagoist.com with further questions, comments or tips.