Remembering Kelly Mehler – FineWoodworking

Frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, Kelly Mehler (1949– October 5, 2025) devoted his life to the craft of woodworking and the sharing of knowledge. His career spanned more than 28 years, marked by a rare blend of craftsmanship, teaching, and generosity.

Kelly’s formal training began in 1974 at the University of Cincinnati’s Ohio College of Applied Science, followed by studies in Industrial Arts at Berea College in Kentucky, where he was mentored by the legendary woodturner Rude Osolnik. That mentorship shaped Kelly’s deep respect for both the process and the people behind fine craftsmanship.

In 1978, Kelly opened his furniture-making shop in Berea, a town known for its thriving community of artisans. There, he built timeless furniture and established the Kelly Mehler School of Woodworking, now called Berea College’s Woodworking School at Pinecroft, where students…