ZELIENOPLE — The Zelienople Rotary Club will host a benefit pancake breakfast to raise money for the family of Frank Kohler, a victim of the Sept. 16, 2013, shooting in the Washington, D.C., Naval Yard.

It will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 6 in the American Legion hall, 308 W. New Castle Street.

Money raised will go to the Kohler College Fund for Kohler’s two daughters, Meghan, 21, and Alexandra, 20, who are attending Liberty University in Virginia.

Frank Kohler was an independent contractor at the Navy Yard, when he and 11 others were killed by Aaron Alexis, who was an information technology employee for a defense contractor at the Navy Yard.

At the time of his death, Frank Kohler was an active member of the Lexington Park Rotary Club near his home in Tall Timbers, Md.

President of the Zelienople Rotary Jeff Simmons said, “Our club members were moved by Frank Kohler’s life story, including his volunteerism. We wanted to show our support by holding this fundraiser and inviting the public to join us in helping his children.”

Simmons said the club is counting on residents of the Zelienople and Harmony area to support the effort.

Kohler, who grew up in Zelienople, was a Seneca Valley High School and 1985 Slippery Rock University graduate and one of five children — and many members of his family still reside in the Zelienople area.

Frank’s brother Harvey Kohler, who recently retired as superintendent from the Zelienople electric department, said Frank met his wife, Michelle, at Slippery Rock University and they moved to Maryland and started their lives.

“They were a strong Christian family,” Kohler said. “Frank was just a great, all-around down-to-earth guy. Everybody loved him.”

Kohler said Frank enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and skiing.

“We would go down to the dock and catch fresh crab with traps,” Kohler said. “Frank was really good at cooking fresh crab.”

“Frank was quite a cook.”

Harvey Kohler said he and his family are familiar with the Rotary’s benefit event since they would go to it every year.

“It was always for a good cause,” Kohler said.