Herb Kohler, 83, CEO of Kohler Corporation, passed away on Saturday

Herbert F. Koehler, Jr., the business tycoon who fortified his family’s namesake manufacturing company and put Wisconsin on the world golf scene by creating a course called Whistling Straits, has died.

Koehler was 83 when he died on Saturday.

In a statement on Sunday, his family said: “His enthusiasm for life and adventure inspires us and his influence. We traveled together, celebrated together and worked together. He was present all along, leaving an indelible mark on the way we live our lives today and continuing his legacy.”

Kohler served as CEO of Kohler for 43 years before handing the role to his son David Kohler in 2015. Since then, he has continued to work for the company as its CEO.

Herbert Vollrath Koehler Jr., Chairman of Kohler Corporation, appears on Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at The American Club in Kohler, Wis.

During his tenure as CEO, Koehler grew the company from a $133 million operation in 1972 to an operation that in 2015 was approaching $6 billion in annual revenue.

The company credits Herb Kohler with having the vision to understand that the company’s business, although it involves manufacturing plumbing fixtures, was really about designing products that create delight for users. Under his leadership, the Kohler Company created products that were not just practical, but created a pleasurable and memorable experience for those who used them.

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